13-year-old MP boy charged with attempted murder of cousin

A 13-year-old Mpumalanga boy has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly shooting his 15-year-old cousin in the face.

The boy, who was arrested in Verena following the incident on 5 April, is expected to appear in the Mkobola Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday after his release from Verena Police Station.

Complaint leads to arrest

Mpumalanga police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Jabu Ndubane says the arrest came after police attended to a complaint at a clinic where the cousin was being treated for a gunshot wound on the cheek.

They were informed that the patient was allegedly shot by his teen cousin.

Further investigation indicated the suspect had somehow stolen the keys to his father’s safe from the wardrobe and retrieved the firearm.

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“It has also surfaced that the suspect was playing with the firearm when the unfortunate occurred wherein the firearm was discharged, hitting the cousin,” Ndubane said.

“Thereafter, the victim was taken to the hospital for medical treatment. Meanwhile, the other teenager, who is the suspect in this case, was taken to the police station,” Ndubane added.

Teen’s father charged

The boy’s father was charged for negligent handling of a firearm.

Acting Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, condemned the incident and cautioned licenced firearm holders to adhere to the stipulated rules and regulations of the Firearms Control Act.

He said firearms in the wrong hands could have deadly consequences.

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