Hunter charged after accidental shot kills man

A 63-year-old hunter accused of firing the gunshot which killed Juan-Pierre Kleingeld, 24, has appeared in a Limpopo court.

Gerhardus Johannes Wiggill appeared on Wednesday on a charge of murder, but this was changed to culpable homicide by the state prosecutor, Colonel Ronel Otto reportedly told Beeld newspaper.

Wiggill was reportedly released on bail of R5000 and would appear again in September.

According to Beeld, Kleingeld was driving a bakkie, with a number of people standing on the back, when a shot discharged from a .308 rifle and hit him in the head on July 12.

He was airlifted to hospital and operated on several times, but remained in a coma until his death.

"We feel very sorry for the man and blame no one. There are no words. It was a accident," his father Aldre Kleingeld was quoted as telling the newspaper.