Afrikaans singer and actor Gé Korsten died in his Wilderness home in the Western Cape on Wednesday after he shot himself in the right temple.
Police spokesperson Sergeant David Mosola said Korsten, 70, got up to make his wife a cup of tea. The singer apparently took a .765 pistol, walked into the kitchen and opened the back door of the house.
His wife heard a shot and when she went to investigate, she found her husband lying on his back.
She ran to neighbours for help and they alerted the police.
Mosola said foul play was not suspected and police were trying to find out why the singer took his own life.
An inquest docket has been opened. - Sapa