8-Year-Old Eastern Cape Boy Fatally Shoots 7-Year-Old Cousin

• An eight-year-old boy who was playing with his father's firearm shot and killed his seven-year-old cousin in the Eastern Cape
• The incident happened in the Nothintwa area on 2 October 2025 in the afternoon, after the child found the gun in his father's bedroom
• The father was arrested and released on warning and is expected to appear before the Mqanduli Magistrates' Court
• Briefly News spoke to crime expert Dr Tinyiku Ngoveni spoke to Briefly News about children committing crime

Tebogo Mokwena, Briefly News’ Deputy Head of the Current Affairs desk, South Africa, covered a range of criminal activities, including cash-in-transit heists, kidnappings, taxi violence, police investigations, police shootouts, and court cases at Daily Sun for over three years.

EASTERN CAPE — The father of an eight-year-old boy was arrested and released on warning after his eight-year-old son shot and killed his seven-year-old cousin on 2 October 2025 in Nothintwa in the Eastern Cape.

Read also

11-Year-old boy's accidental shooting leaves farm worker dead in Thabazimbi

According to IOL, the incident happened when the boy found his father's licensed firearm in his bedroom. He then pointed the gun at his cousin. A shot went off, and his cousin died on the spot. The South African Police Service opened a case of murder against the little boy. His father has been charged with failure to safeguard a firearm. He was arrested and released on warning.

The father is expected to appear before the Mqanduli Magistrate's Court on 3 October. The young boy has been referred to social workers.

Recent shootings in 2025

More than several incidents involving gun violence occurred in September and October 2025, underscoring the battle with gun violence.

The Western Cape provincial government closed off 10 taxi routes in the province on 16 September. This was after a taxi owner was gunned down in Brown's Farm in Nyanga on the same day. His death was believed to be the result of a deadly rivalry between the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) and the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (CODETA).

The Western Cape police arrested six men in Mfuleni and Delft, Cape Town, on 18 September 2025. This was after six people were shot and killed in a shooting in Mfuleni on the same day. The police said the murders were linked to extortion.

Read also

A look inside Hangwane Maumela's mansion which appeared on top Billing

Briefly News speaks to crime expert

Crime expert Dr Tinyiku Ngoveni spoke to Briefly News and noted that there was an increase in children being involved in violent crimes.

"The number of children in criminal holding cells can serve as proof. We must take note that some of these criminal activities, just like harassment and bullying, are not reported but normalized by educators, parents, and victims in most cases," he said.

What did South Africans say?

Netizens gave their opinions on the gun violence in the country.

Wellborn Prince said:

"The violence starts from a young age in South Africa."

KB Edward said:

"South Africa and the USA are same WhatsApp group. There are a lot of bad things happening in these counties."

Mpati wa Phokeng Sefadi said:

"Whatever is happening in the Eastern Cape is diabolical. Kids give birth there, kids are accessing firearms."

Shehnaaz Mohamed Shamoon said:

"The father did not do the shooting."

Read also

SAPS launches manhunt after 2 killed in N1 robbery in Mokopane

Milpark shooting leaves 1 dead

In a related article, Briefly News reported that one person was killed during a shooting at Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg. The incident happened on 1 October.

The victim was shot several times after he allegedly visited a friend at the hospital. No arrests were made.

Source: Briefly News