Police satisfied with gun amnesty
Edwin Tshivhidzo
7 July 2005
The police have expressed satisfaction with the response to the call for South Africans to hand in illegal weapons, saying a total of 94 631 firearms were collected during the six-month amnesty period, which ended in June.
This number includes firearms collected during police raids and those that legal owners handed in because they did not want them anymore.
Police spokesperson Phuti Setati said there were no plans to extend the campaign. "We believe people had enough time to hand over their illegal firearms," he said.
Police have also urged legal gun owners to renew their firearm licences before their expiry dates. If they fail to do so, they will be regarded as illegal gun owners.
South Africa's penalties for illegal possession of firearms are very steep, including sentences that can extend to 25 years in jail.
According to Setati, senior police officials will be visiting provinces to remind people about their firearm licence
renewal. The license renewal period ends in 2008.
"Should one be found with an expired firearm license, police will have no choice but to arrest that person and also have his/her firearm confiscated," Setati said.
Gun owners are advised to call the National Firearm call centre at (012) 353-6111.
Minister of Safety and Security Charles Nqakula warned that police would be conducting raids throughout the country after the amnesty period expires.
"There is no doubt that the amnesty will save the lives of many South Africans," Nqakula said, pointing out that of 18 000 people killed in South Africa in the 2003/2004 financial year, more than 10 000 were killed by firearms.
Firearms handed over to the police will be tested ballistically to ensure that they were not used in criminal activities before being destroyed, Nqakula added.
"It should also be emphasised that any persons that know of individuals or organisations illegally possessing firearms,
ammunitions or caches, and fail to report this, are liable to prosecution", Nqakula said. "It is in their own interest to share such information with the police."
The government aims to reduce crime by between seven percent and 10 percent a year, and has set itself a target of 10 years in which to eliminate informal settlements, which are used as hiding places for criminals and as bases for organised crime.
Nqakula said the government aimed to increase the capacity of the police force to 152 000 members by the end of 2005/06.
The force already stands at 148 907 members, he said, and the department is looking at adding 5 500 of 11 000 entry-level constables currently completing training.
Source: BuaNews
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