teenager

Photo: Facebook

Teenager killed in a freak accident with a hunting rifle in North West

The 16-year-old Hanru Posthumus was allegedly busy cleaning the hunting rifle when a shot went off. He was fatally shot in the head.

teenager

Photo: Facebook

A teenager died in a freak accident with a hunting rifle on Saturday.

HANRU IS SURVIVED BY HIS PARENTS, BROTHER AND SISTER

Hanru Posthumus (16) and his father Gerhard planned to hunt on their farm near Christiana in the North West on Saturday.

According to police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh, Hanru was allegedly busy cleaning his father’s hunting rifle went a shot went off.

“He was shot in the head and died on the scene. No foul play is suspected.”

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Meanwhile, the Hoërskool Sentraal in Bloemfontein said it was saddened by the death of Hanru, a Grade 10 learner.

The school posted a photo of a lit candle on its Facebook page on Sunday at 20:00 to commemorate Hanru.

Learners and teachers were invited to also post a photo of a candle on their social media platforms.

Hanru is survived by his parents, brother, and sister.

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Meanwhile, an unrelated accident near Potchefstroom claimed the lives of three people and injured ten others. 

THE FATAL HEAD-ON COLLISION HAPPENED ON SATURDAY

According to the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management spokesperson Boitshoko Moremi, the accident happened on Saturday. 

“Three people were confirmed dead at the scene of the accident that happened in the afternoon of Saturday, 20km from Potchefstroom to Ventersdorp.”

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Moremi said one passenger was airlifted and nine taken by ambulances to the hospital after a Quantum taxi collided head-on with a Kia Sedan.

The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari, said he was saddened by the number of people who lost their lives.

“We are saddened by the loss of life on our roads while we are doing so much to increase our visibility and continuously engaging with our motorists to comply on the road.

“We are doing all these to avoid unnecessary incidents and fatalities. The accident is an unfortunate incident and we really regret the loss of lives of our beloved ones.”

Police are investigating a case of culpable homicide.