An 11-year-old boy has allegedly shot and killed a farm worker while attempting to shoot at guinea fowls on a farm in South Africa, police say.

According to the police, the child "accidentally discharged" the firearm, though the exact circumstances of the shooting are still under investigation.

His 43-year-old father has been arrested and is expected to be charged with negligent handling of a firearm. The two are due to appear in court on Monday.

Police said they were alerted to the shooting and on arrival at the scene discovered the body of a man believed to be in his 30s lying on his side with a gunshot wound. He was declared dead at the scene.

Saturday's shooting in Thabazimbi, Limpopo province, has renewed concern over firearm safety and parental responsibility in the country. The firearm was seized as evidence.

"This heart-breaking incident serves as a reminder that firearms must be handled with the utmost care and stored securely at all times," Limpopo police chief Thembi Hadebe said.

She added that parents and guardians have a responsibility to ensure that "children do not have access to firearms under any circumstances".

Local media report that the incident has deeply shocked the local farming community and raised public concern about the risks of children accessing weapons in rural households.

Earlier this month, police said they had opened a murder charge against an eight-year-old boy after he fatally shot his seven-year-old cousin with his father's firearm in Eastern Cape province.

His 48-year-old father was charged with failure to safeguard the firearm.