Cele urges citizens to help mould firearms control bill

Thousands of written submissions have already been received as the police ministry called on citizens to have their say on a proposed gun control act, according to police minister General Bheki Cele.

The bill was published in the Gazette for public discussion last week Friday.

“The number is growing,” the minister said.

“The interest and vast number of comments received so far indicates that South Africans are making their voices heard in this matter.

“We urge the public to continue with this momentum as all comments will be scrutinised and those considered useful will be incorporated to strengthen the provisions of the bill.”

The firearms control amendment bill 2021 replaces the firearms control amendment bill 2015 that was submitted to cabinet in February 2015.

The bill seeks to amend and strengthen the firearms control act.

Cele reminded citizens of the rationale behind the proposed changes.

“The proposed amendments respond to the overarching policy principles of non-proliferation of firearms in South Africa and the strengthening of the processes relating to the applications for firearm and ammunition licences and the management of firearms and ammunition.

“South Africans should take comfort in the fact that the proposed amendments were not taken lightly, extensive research, consultations with various stakeholders preceded the proposed amendments.”

He said the amendments should not be interpreted as though government was looking into disarming citizens.

“There is no right to bear arms in our constitution. The act in its current form grants no such right to citizens either, owning a gun in this country remains a privilege made possible through the act.”

He said that arming citizens would not solve the country’s high crime rate.

“The mere possession of a firearm can lead to increased rates of victimisation; both for the gun owner and those living in the household, simply put, this proposed change in law also has the potential to mean the difference between life and death for hundreds of women who are in the clutches of their abusers, inside their own homes,” Cele said.

He said the police ministry was further convinced that the firearms control amendment bill was the key to a safer South Africa and the world.

The bill can be accessed on the Civilian Secretariat for the Police’s website www.policesecretariat.gov.za and are open for public comment until 4 July 2021.