The community of Mashamba at Tshitale area is still reeling from shock, after an 11-year-old boy and Grade 4 pupil at Mashamba Primary, Vhutali Mashamba, shot himself with his grandfather’s hunting rifle late on Thursday afternoon.

According to the Tshitale Police spokesperson, Const Tshifhiwa Ligege, the police have opened a case of the negligent use of a fire-arm.

The grandfather of the pupil, Mr Philemon Mashaba, said his untimely death had robbed the family of a good person. "He was still young and we were still awaiting many good things from him. He had a bright future ahead of him.”

The school headmaster, Mr Lawrence Ramusilei, said that he was shocked when he heard the bad news. The reason behind the suicide is not known yet, but according to sources, it is suspected that the divorce of the boy’s parents might lead to his desperate deed.