The incident took place in the Letsitele policing area on a farm.
‘It is alleged the victim, Mathanene Ishmael (55) was on duty at the farm when he was sent by his foreman to go and fetch a pick from the storeroom. On his way back, riding on his bicycle, he was allegedly shot in the head. The suspect claimed he mistook him of a monkey. He allegedly used a pellet gun to shoot the victim,’ Brig Motlafela Mojapelo said.
The victim is from Mariveni village outside Tzaneen was taken to the hospital.
‘This is the second incident within two months where people are mistaken to be animals and then shot at,’ Mojapelo said
The Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba has condemned this behavior in the strongest possible terms. He went further and warmed gun owners to make proper identification of the target before making use of their firearms.
Child mistaken for monkey shot dead in KZN
” I want to issue a strong warning to anyone with the tendency of shooting at human beings believing them to be animals that the police will act swiftly in arresting them,” lamented General Ledwaba.
The firearm that was used during the incident has been confiscated, the police said.
The suspect will appear in Ritavi magistrate court tomorrow, Friday March 10 on a charge of attempted murder.
Also read:
Monkey maintenance causing violence in Tzaneen
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