- A 13-year-old boy shot himself in the head with his uncle's police-issued firearm.
- Police do not know yet whether it was intentional or an accident.
- His uncle, a warrant officer for the Hawks, faces a charge of negligent keeping of a firearm.
A 13-year-old Polokwane boy shot himself in the head with his policeman uncle's official weapon, Limpopo police said on Tuesday.
Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said the incident occurred in Shayandima in Thohoyandou on Monday at about 16:30.
He identified the teen as Phetani Kwinda.
Kwinda's 43-year-old uncle is a warrant officer in the police's specialist unit, the Hawks, in Limpopo.
Police understand that his 9mm Z88 service pistol was left in a room without being locked in a safe as required.
They don't know yet whether the shooting was intentional or an accident. The Hawks officer now faces a charge of negligent keeping of a firearm in contravention of the Firearms Control Act.
Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembi Hadebe said: "The firearm may not be kept anywhere except in a locked safe or carried in a holster that is worn by or attached to the person of the holder when it is not in use.
"The member will then be dealt with accordingly."