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Boy, 9, shot by friend

Canaan Mdletshe

Canaan Mdletshe

Police have expressed concern about the rising number of young people caught in possession of homemade firearms in the Zululand area.

This comes after a 12-year-old boy fatally shot his nine-year-old friend with a homemade gun on Tuesday afternoon.

Superintendent Jay Naicker said a group of youngsters, aged between nine and 12 years, were playing in the veld at Mbizana ward in Mbongolwane. They were then joined by a 16-year-old youth who was in possession of a home- made firearm which was loaded with shotgun ammunition.

"It is alleged that the older boy placed the firearm on the floor. Another youngster picked up the firearm for a closer look. It is alleged the youngster may have accidentally squeezed the trigger and a shot went off. The bullet struck nine-year-old Bongani Msomi in the forehead, fatally wounding him," said Naicker.

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