According to the spokesperson of the police in the Vhembe Area, Supt Ailwei Mushavhanamadi, it is alleged that the deceased came back home shortly before the incident. Realising that he was looking drunk, his father called him and started questioning him as to whether he had attended the Saturday classes that afternoon or not.
That, according to the police statement, resulted in an argument between the two. The deceased later left and went to his father’s room. That is where he allegedly stole his father’s firearm and shot himself in the head. The father heard the gunshot and when he got into the room he found the boy lying dead in a pool of blood.
The father, a well-known traffic officer in the Thulamela Municipality, Mr Khathutshelo Tshirado, was arrested and charged with negligent handling of firearm the following day. He was warned and released.