Firearm amnesty period could be extended – police ministry
The police ministry had written to parliament to request an extension for the firearm amnesty period.
The ministry of police was applying to have the firearm amnesty period extended.
This according to police minister Bheki Cele, who addressed the media on Friday.
“We have already written to parliament to request an extension for the firearm amnesty period,” Cele said.
“We have noticed a sharp decline in the number of firearms being surrendered from April. We believe this decline may be due to the lockdown because it is not deemed an essential service.”
Cele said the amnesty would allow police to further curb crime by removing firearms from the streets.
“We appreciate the over 16 000 firearms handed over so far. Over 140 000 rounds of ammunition have also been handed over.”
This week, civil rights organisation AfriForum said its legal team had sent several letters to the police minister requesting the extension.
According to a statement by AfriForum, it directed letters to both Cele and the national police commissioner General Khehla Sithole on 25 and 30 March.
In the letters, the organisation expressed its concern regarding the fact that firearm owners couldn’t use the amnesty period during level 5 of the lockdown.
“The amnesty period was announced on 27 October 2019 and is valid from 1 December 2019 until 31 May 2020,” said AfriForum legal and risk manager for community safety Marnus Kamfer.
“Firearm owners who are in possession of unlicensed firearms are among others afforded the opportunity during this time to hand in the firearms at their nearest police station without being prosecuted.
“People who want to make use of the amnesty period ought to get the opportunity to properly do so.”
Kamfer said it was a challenge to obtain clarity regarding what precisely the amnesty holds and what steps must be taken should someone want to apply for a firearm again after was handed in at the police station.
“AfriForum is also concerned that firearms handed in during the amnesty period for safe-keeping while owners apply for their licences, could be accidentally destroyed.
“Firearm owners who use the amnesty period to re-apply for licences are cautioned to make sure their weapons don’t appear on the list of weapons earmarked to be destroyed.”
AfriForum said it noted, according to the police website, weapons, ammunition and parts that are handed in voluntarily or declared forfeited to the state would be destroyed on 25 June 2020.
“It is an enormous inconvenience – especially during this time – to apply for a firearm licence,” Kamfer said.
“It will be regrettable if someone followed the process of applying for a firearm, paid the fees and did all the administration to get a licence, only to find out later that the firearm had accidentally been destroyed.
“People who could be affected by this should keep the police responsible for the accuracy of the list of firearms to be destroyed. AfriForum will also observe the process.”
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