Firearm amnesty period ends in May
A person surrendering a firearm can also apply for a licence for such a firearm in terms of the Firearms Control Act, 2000.
Norkem Park SAPS urges residents to hand over illegal or unwanted firearms to their nearest police station.
This is part of the ongoing firearm amnesty which started on December 1, 2019, and expires on May 31.
Sgt Johanna Madiga, spokesperson for Norkem Park SAPS, said those in possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition should take advantage of this amnesty period to hand over the weapons without the fear of prosecution.
“However, a person who hands over a firearm that has been used in the commissioning of a crime will not enjoy exoneration from this amnesty. All firearms will undergo ballistic testing to ensure they were not used to commit crimes, before they are cleared for destruction.”
The firearm amnesty was declared by the Minister of Police in the Government Gazette on November 27. This amnesty provides an opportunity for members of the public to surrender unwanted firearms and ammunition, firearms possessed unlawfully, as well as firearm parts.
The amnesty applies to the following:
• Unwanted firearm relates to firearms that are lawfully in someone’s possession, but their owners no longer need or require them
• Firearms that are unsafe to use, or in a poor state
• Firearms that were inherited from a deceased person, and a person is not interested in keeping it
• Firearms that were left behind by the previous owner of the property and were found on such property.
Illegal firearms• An illegal firearm is any firearm or firearm part which is not licensed
• An illegal firearm includes a firearm or firearm part that is not registered to the current owner
• An illegal firearm might not have a serial number
• An illegal firearm is possessed by a person who doesn’t have a licence for that firearm.
Madiga said the community is encouraged to visit their local police station or to make use of the MySAPS app. The community is also welcome to contact 011 391 1814 for more information.
Link to SAPS document: https://www.saps.gov.za/services/flash/downloads/firearm_amnesty_faq_updated.pdf
