A 25-YEAR-OLD Mpumalanga man who was allegedly bragging to his girlfriend about a handgun died when he accidentally shot himself in the head.

Police say Moses Khambane, of Seabe village, was showing off an illegal .38 Special revolver to his girlfriend when he fatally shot himself.

The accident happened at his girlfriend's home at Lefiso village.

Mmametlhake police spokesperson Sergeant Hastings Chaane told Sowetan yesterday that Khambane arrived at Lebogang Molwantoa's place on Sunday night and they went to her room.

"The two were reportedly relaxing when Khambane took out the gun and started caressing it.

"It was during this showing-off that a bullet was discharged and hit him in the head. He died instantly," Chaane said.

He said an inquest has been opened and investigations were under way.

Lebogang's father, Sam Molwantoa, told Sowetan that he and his wife were at church when he received the call about the incident.

"Initially, I ignored my daughter's calls, but when she phoned for the fifth time, I went out and answered. That's when she told me the sad news."

Molwantoa said he told his wife about the incident only when they were closer to their home.

"My daughter has been with Khambane for a long time but we have never met his family. We only got to know each other when we called them to tell them about their son's death," Molwantoa said.