A 22-year-old woman suffering from depression held her 12-year-old brother hostage in Stilfontein, near Klerksdorp, North West police said Thursday.
Captain Adele Myburgh said the woman, 22, held her young brother hostage on Wednesday afternoon, when he returned from school.
“The boy returned from school and was inside their house, when his sister took him hostage and threatened to kill him with their mother's firearm which she took from the safe.”
She said their parents were at work when the incident happened, but an older brother, aged 28, was at home and called for help.
“The police arrived on the scene and started negotiations... the police managed to convinced the sister to let go of the boy. She also handed herself over to the police.”
The police recover the firearm, a 7.65 Beretta.
The boy was handed to his grandmother after he was examined at the scene. He sustained no injuries.
The woman was admitted in hospital under police guard and would be charged with attempted murder and unlawful possession of an firearm and ammunition. – Sapa