A tragic incident in Thabazimbi, Limpopo province, has once again highlighted the critical issue of firearm safety and parental responsibility in South Africa. An 11-year-old boy allegedly shot and killed a farm worker while attempting to hunt guinea fowls on a farm. According to police reports, the child ‘accidentally discharged’ the firearm, though the exact details of the incident remain under investigation. The boy’s 43-year-old father has been arrested and is expected to face charges of negligent handling of a firearm. Both are scheduled to appear in court on Monday. Upon arrival at the scene, police discovered the body of a man believed to be in his 30s lying on his side with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The firearm involved has been seized as evidence. Limpopo police chief Thembi Hadebe emphasized the importance of firearm safety, stating, ‘This heart-breaking incident serves as a reminder that firearms must be handled with the utmost care and stored securely at all times.’ Hadebe further stressed that parents and guardians must ensure children do not have access to firearms under any circumstances. The incident has deeply shocked the local farming community and sparked public concern about the risks of children accessing weapons in rural households. This tragedy follows another recent case in Eastern Cape province, where an eight-year-old boy fatally shot his seven-year-old cousin with his father’s firearm. The boy’s 48-year-old father was charged with failure to safeguard the weapon. These incidents underscore the urgent need for stricter firearm regulations and heightened awareness of child safety in South Africa.