Gunowners from the North Coast have joined a national outcry after government was accused of pushing a flawed firearms amendment process at Nedlac talks.

The dispute arose during a National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) dialogue session on the Firearms Control Amendment Bill, held on December 4 at Nedlac House in Rosebank, Johannesburg.

The South African Gunowners’ Association (Saga), which includes Ballito members and local shooting clubs, claims the proposed amendments could significantly restrict civilian firearm ownership, affecting law-abiding residents, sport shooters and security-conscious households.

Saga said the dialogue was presented as an evidence-based policy process aligned with international best practice. Instead, it accused government representatives of arriving poorly prepared, offering shifting explanations and failing to present empirical data to support the draft Bill, which was compiled by Nedlac and the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service (CSPS).

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The organisation also accused the state of misrepresenting the 118 000 objections submitted during the 2021 public consultation process. According to Saga, independent analysis showed more than 90% of submissions rejected the draft Bill, which was later withdrawn following widespread public backlash.

“This is not public participation; it is the circumvention of it,” said Saga trustee and Ballito Defensive Sports Shooting Club member Shaun Lyle.

Lyle said the current draft Bill retains prohibitions and what Saga considers unconstitutional provisions, while ignoring longstanding concerns about Saps governance and the capacity of the Central Firearms Registry.

“This is political repackaging, and, by CSPS’s own admission, little more than the rejected 2021 draft repackaged to appease activist groups,” he said.

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Saga also criticised the government’s readiness, noting that Saps withdrew its presentation at the last minute and that CSPS failed to deliver promised research, with ballistic justifications collapsing under scrutiny.

“When challenged with facts, the Bill could not stand on its own,” said Lyle.

“It is unconstitutional, irrational and unworkable.”

Saga said it plans to challenge the process, demand disclosure of supporting research, prepare for the parliamentary phase and support co-ordinated legal action. A national objection petition is also expected.

At present, no version of the draft Bill has been gazetted, tabled in Parliament or referred to the Police Portfolio Committee, meaning no formal public participation process is officially underway.

Nedlac, CSPS and Saps had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.

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