White South African Man Shoots a Black Woman, Claims He Mistook Her for a Hippo

A white South African man who shot and injured a black woman claiming he mistook her for a hippopotamus was on Thursday charged with attempted murder.

Paul Hendrik van Zyl, 77, was arrested on Tuesday after shooting the woman multiple times as she fished together with her partner in a river in Lephalale town, northern Limpopo province.

The 38-year-old woman identified as Ramokone Linah sustained gun wounds on her arm, according to a police report.

South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said the woman’s partner managed to hide.

 "The arrested suspect alleged that he was shooting at the animals (hippopotamus)," police spokesman Mamphaswa Seabi said as quoted by South African media.

Police recovered two rifles, one revolver, one pistol, and two air guns during the arrest.

Hendrik, a farm owner, was released on 1,000 rands bail and the case was postponed to May 18th for further investigations.

South African activist group Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) staged a protest outside the court against the granting of bail to the suspect over racism claims.