“Poor Child”: SA Calls for Safer Regulations After Eid Celebration Turns Tragic

• A 12-year-old girl died after a firearm was allegedly accidentally discharged on a farm in the Free State during an Eid period family visit
• A video showing a bull breaking loose from a truck at what appears to be a slaughter event circulated widely, but according to sources, it isn't directly linked
• SAPS have since released a statement indicating the child was fatally wounded during a hunting expedition on the same farm, and many are calling for stricter regulations

A video shared on 1 June 2026 by Denzil Govender on the community safety group GROUND Z3RO SEARCH & RESCUE showed a bull breaking loose from a truck at what appeared to be a Qurbani gathering. The caption linked the footage to the death of a 12-year-old girl in the Free State.

The video showed the bull charging out of the truck at the Jabadus Salaam premises, kicking and stomping as men scrambled to get it under control. Seconds later, gunshots rang out, and people started running. Screaming and crying could be heard as the crowd tried to make sense of what had happened.

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According to the report about the viral video, workers tried to put the bull down, but the first shot failed. The farm manager then allegedly drew his personal firearm and fired multiple rounds.

However, it's not confirmed that this footage is directly related to the death of the young girl. A source stated that the bull video is unrelated and was filmed in Durban, at a separate incident.

What happened at the Eid gathering?

According to SAPS, the 12-year-old was on a farm near Ficksburg with her family when a firearm was allegedly accidentally discharged, fatally wounding her. She was rushed to hospital but declared dead on arrival at around 9 am.

The suspect was arrested, charged with murder, and granted bail of R1,000 after appearing in the Ficksburg Magistrate's Court. The case has since been reclassified as culpable homicide and returns to court in July.

A source said only a small group of family members and the suspect were present on the farm that day. The family has asked for privacy and wants the misinformation surrounding the incident to stop. Investigations are ongoing.

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Our deepest condolences go out to the family.

Netizens mourn child killed at Eid event

South Africans had strong reactions to the viral video on the Facebook group:

@Sameera Shaik said:

"That was very irresponsible of the shooter to just shoot in public like that with so many people around."

@John Smith wrote:

"Absolutely irresponsible firearm ownership. The shooter must face the consequences. My heart goes out to the child who lost her life. This is beyond tragic..."

@Adil Mahomed mourned:

"Poor child lost her life... Sad, none of this should've happened."

@Michelle Morrison said:

"My deepest sympathy to the family of the child... Also my deepest sympathy to the animals who also feel terror..."

More on SA tragedies

• Briefly News recently reported on a brazen shooting outside a Centurion golf estate that left two men dead.
• Five cousins from the Free State died in a single car crash on the R712, wreaking havoc on the family that had already been through hardship just weeks before.
• A woman broke down in tears trying to organise a gathering for justice, and what she faced while trying to make it happen left many disappointed.

Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.

Source: Briefly News