An Mpumalanga security guard, whose one-year-old son was seen walking around with her service pistol, was handed a two-month prison sentence with an option to pay an R800 fine.

Nelisiwe Sindisiwe Nkosi, 34, of Langeloop village south of Malalane, was sentenced in the Tonga Magistrate's Court after pleading guilty to negligently handling a firearm on Tuesday, a Sapa correspondent reported.

Nkosi, who earns R2500 a month, was arrested on March 1 this year after her son was seen walking the streets with a loaded firearm.

The court heard that Nkosi kept her work Norinco pistol in her bedroom drawer but failed to keep the keys out of her son's reach.

She admitted in a statement read out in court that hiding the keys to her drawer under her pillow was negligent and dangerous.

Magistrate Sibonisiwe Sibuyi ruled that Nkosi could keep her pistol but must keep it safe or have it taken away from her.

"I want you to keep the gun safe because your son might take it and give it to criminals to commit crime. I am therefore sentencing you to two months' imprisonment or a fine of R800," said Sibuyi.