City boy, 12, killed in zip gun shooting accident

A 12-YEAR-OLD Mitchells Plain boy believed to have been playing with a homemade gun has died in hospital after he was accidentally shot.

Provincial police spokesperson Frederick van Wyk said police found Nowan Africa with a bullet wound to the head on Sunday at around 1.30pm in Sugarloaf Street, Tafelsig.

Nowan, in Grade 7, was given aid at the scene then taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. He died in the early hours of yesterday.

“It is believed that the victim and his friends were playing with a home-made (zip gun) firearm when a shot was discharged. A murder case has been opened for investigation,” Van Wyk said.

“At this stage the investigation is still ongoing (and) no arrest has been made, however the case docket has been referred to the Senior Public Prosecutor who will make a decision on prosecution.”

Nowan’s mother Rowena said the family were preparing for his funeral, which would take place over the weekend. “Nowan was the type of boy who would always help people. I could always call on him and he would do his best. And he was doing well at school. He didn’t want to miss a day at school.

“I don’t know what to say. He is my child,” an emotional Rowena said yesterday.

She said Nowan had planned to be an engineer and, as he had a passion for cars, he planned to design and make his dream car one day.

She also thanked family, friends, the community and his school, Dennegeur Avenue Primary, for their support.

School principal Shaheed Gaidien said a special assembly for the Grade 7s had been held, where he told them of Nowan’s death.

“We have contacted the (education) department and Safe Schools, and a psychologist has come to the school to counsel our pupils. They are very traumatised.

“Some of them had seen a body… but they didn’t know who it was and now they realise,” he said.

Gaidien described Nowan as a “model pupil” who was active and enjoyed soccer.