POLOKWANE – The second wave of Covid-19 infections and the impact this has on the police’s capabilities to process applications are reasons the family farmer organisation, Saai, has requested Police Minister, Bheki Cele, to extend the deadline for amnesty applications.

According to a statement by the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Dr Theo de Jager, current Covid-19 regulations, the fear of spreading the virus as well as the absence of officers as a result of Covid-19 has negatively impacted the amnesty period for firearm licences. The current deadline for amnesty applications is 31 January.

“Police offices in rural areas often have a shortage of the prescribed forms needed to apply for amnesty. Loadshedding and continuous maintenance of systems also cause computer systems to be offline regularly, while the absence of the necessary officials further disrupts the amnesty process. Saai is concerned about the capacity of the SAPS to process the amnesty applications within a reasonable period and to return the correct firearms, undamaged, to the rightful owners,” De Jager explained.

He explained that some Saai members had to return to police offices up to seven times and wait several hours, for their applications to be processed unsuccessfully.

“Covid-19 is mostly blamed for this and it is precisely for this reason that the period for applications ought to be extended. One of the biggest obstacles is the requirement that firearms must be handed in at the SAPS for the duration of the amnesty process. Taking into account the high rural crime rate and increase in farm attacks, cattle theft, crop theft and poaching of game, it simply doesn’t make sense to leave farmers unarmed on their farms while they are waiting for their firearms to be licensed,” he added.

Saai proposed that farmers must be allowed to keep their firearms and only hand it in once the SAPS is ready for ballistics testing, without any luck.

“As a result of the value of firearms and especially expensive hunting rifles, Saai strongly recommends firearm owners to take photos of their firearms to serve as proof of the condition of the firearms upon the process of handing it in. As the largest network exclusively for family farmers, Saai will continue keeping a close eye on the amnesty process and the organisation is ready to hold the SAPS accountable and responsible for administrative justice and for the return of weapons,” De Jager said.

Firearm owners that are concerned that they are being disadvantaged during the amnesty process can contact Saai at 066 071 6094.