Free State: Man granted R1,000 bail after 12‑year‑old killed by stray bullet on farm

A 26-year-old man has been granted bail after a 12‑year‑old girl was fatally shot by a stray bullet on a Free State farm during an Eid al‑Adha qurbani trip.

Who, what and where

The suspect, 26-year-old Riwaan Madaka, appeared in the Ficksburg Magistrate’s Court on 1 June 2026 facing a charge of culpable homicide after the death of 12‑year‑old Amatullah Bint Ismail Mungur.

The fatal shooting occurred on Friday, 29 May 2026, at a secluded farm at Jibalus Salaam in the mountainous Fouriesburg area, near Ficksburg.

Bail and next court date

“He was granted bail of R 1 000, charged with culpable homicide, and will be back in court on 22 July.”

How the incident unfolded

Free State police spokesperson Warrant Officer Mmako Mophiring told The Citizen the shooting happened during a hunting trip on the farm.

“It was alleged that the deceased’s father and the suspect were hunting when the suspect accidentally discharged a firearm, fatally wounding the 12‑year‑old girl.”

Amatullah was rushed to hospital but

“was unfortunately declared dead upon arrival at approximately 9am.”

Investigation steps

Mophiring said hospital staff alerted authorities and a murder case was registered.

“All firearms belonging to the suspect were confiscated for further forensic ballistic testing as part of the ongoing investigation.”

Other details

A source told the Post newspaper that widely circulated video footage showing an escaped bull was unrelated to the shooting. The source said:

“The video depicting the chaos which erupted when a bull, that was due to be sacrificed, broke loose from a truck and went on a rampage, was not related to the girl’s death. The incident in the Free State has no video footage.”

The family had travelled to the farm to slaughter a cow for distribution among relatives and friends when the shooting occurred. The source said only a handful of people were present at the time.