Tragic accident causes the commissioner to condemn the use of firearms
Negligence in safe keeping firearms is of a concernin the province after two young lives were lost
NELSPRUIT – The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thulani Ntobela is strongly condemning the negligence loss of two young lives as a result of not adhering to statutory legislation governing the safe keeping of firearms.
The sentiments of the General are drawn from the tragic incident that occurred on Friday, 13 September 2013, at Ludlow Trust in Manyeleti near Hazyview. In this particular detestable event, two young boys aged 11 and 13, lost their lives.
The manner in which the boys died spiralled from a negligent point of view. The police heard that the boys came back from school and the 11-year-old boy decided to visit the 13-year-old boy.
It was then alleged that the 13-year-old retrieved a firearm belonging to his father which was stashed underneath the mattress.
The innocent boys played with the firearm until when accidentally a shot went off and fatally wounded the 11-year-old.
He then went at the back of his parents’ house and allegedly committed suicide.
Now the legislation dealing with the handling of firearms depicts that anyone who fails to lock a firearm in a prescribed safe is guilty of an offence.
Section 120(8)(a) of the Firearm Control Act 60 of 2000, stipulates that a person is guilty of an offence if he or she fails to lock away his or her firearm or a firearm in his or her possession in a prescribed safe, strong room or device for the safe-keeping when such firearm is not carried on his or her person or is not under his or her direct control.
The reason why these laws were effected, was for these particular pertinent issues to avoid unnecessary fatalities and negligent loses.
The public should be aware that if found guilty on the above mentioned offence, one maybe convicted to a lengthy sentence not excluding the possibility of being declared unfit to possess a firearm.
Section 102 (1)(d) allows the Registrar to declare a person unfit to possess a firearm if on the grounds of information contained in a statement under oath or affirmation including a statement made by any person has failed to take the prescribed steps for the safe keeping of any firearm.
“The preliminary probe suggest that the death of the two boys was by all means as a result of gross contravention of the Firearm Control Act 60 of 2000 under Section 120(8)(a), however, we will allow the law to take its natural course,” said General Ntobela.
On Monday, September 16, 2013, the suspect, Mr Shiboy Shipalane 63, appeared before the Mhala Magistrate’s Court facing a charge of negligent handling of a firearm and was released on a warning until September 27, 2013.
