'Amnesty for legal guns, too'
2005-03-22 20:47
Nkosana ka Makaula
Nelspruit - People who own guns legally, but don't necessarily want them anymore, are urged to hand them in as part of the national amnesty campaign on illegal firearms.
The campaign targeted mainly illegal firearm owners, who had until March 31 to turn in their weapons and be granted amnesty.
Putsoa Makua of the safety and security department said: "But, people who own firearms legally and feel they no longer need them, are encouraged to bring them in during this amnesty period."
He said the amnesty process aimed to reduce the overall number of firearms in circulation, whether they be legal or illegal weapons.
'People unfit to possess firearms'
He said: "The high numbers of firearms that are in circulation are responsible for the high levels of violent crimes in our society.
"Gun ownership has not been properly regulated in the past and people who are unfit to possess firearms ended up owning them."
On Wednesday, Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula was to encourage residents of Msogwaba, outside Nelspruit, to hand in any illegal weapons.
Mpumalanga Premier Thabang Makwetla and the safety and security MEC Dinah Pule were to accompany Nqakula.
The minister's visit will be the fifth imbizo on firearms. He already has been to the Free State, Gauteng, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
The amnesty was granted to illegal gun owners on condition that the weapons had not been used to commit a crime.
- African Eye