A seven-year-old Eastern Cape boy has been shot and killed while playing with his cousins.

Kwanele Zide was playing with his two older cousins at their Libode home when his 11-year-old cousin found a firearm under the bed. While fiddling with the firearm, a shot accidentally went off killing Zide. He sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the head.

The gun is believed to belong to their 49-year-old grandfather. A case of murder has been opened. Due to the child being a minor, he was not arrested.

The grandfather was arrested for being in the possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition. He is set to appear in the Libode Magistrate’s Court soon.

[Picture: SAPS / Twitter]