Gun owners demand licences

2005-06-14 17:04

Johannesburg - A group of gun owners and gun-shop proprietors are demanding police grant them firearm licences, according to a memorandum handed to the office of Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa on Tuesday.

Abios Khoele, president of the Black Gun Owners' Association, said: "We have given them three weeks to respond to our demand. If they don't respond we will go and collect our guns from the gun-shop owners, with or without licences."

Guns are held at the shops after they are purchased, until the paperwork is completed.

The memorandum read that black gun owners were "sick and tired of the lies" from Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula about their guns.

"Black gun owners need firearms for self-defence and are being refused all of their licences without compensation," he said.

'18 months to process appeals'

Paul Trollip, owner of a gun shop on the East Rand, said people who sought guns were being turned down for many reasons, including being a teacher.

"One person who is a teacher had his application turned down because of his job description."

He said police were sitting on 20 000 appeals that would take about 18 months to process.

Trollip said most gun-shop owners in South Africa supported the Black Gun Owners' Association because the new Firearms Control Act could put them out of business.

He had sold only five guns in the past 10 months, he said.

The group, which came in four buses and taxis, met at Beyers Naudé Gardens in central Johannesburg before walking to Shilowa's office.

Some placards the crowd waved read: "Guns don't kill people. Guns protect people", "New law sucks. Old law still the best" and "Nqakula, son of H F Verwoerd. Stop oppressing blacks".

A handful of police monitored the march.

- SAPA