Gun amnesty extended
2005-04-01 09:56
Pretoria - South Africans now have until June 30 to hand in illegal firearms, the government said on Friday.
An amnesty period that came into effect on January 1 was to have ended on March 31.
Safety and Security spokesperson Trevor Bloem told Sapa that Minister Charles Nqakula arrived at the decision after "consultation with relevant government structures".
"The minister has decided to extend amnesty by a further three months to allow those, who took time to make up their minds whether or not to hand in their firearms, to do so now.
"After this extension, people will have no excuse to say they didn't know about the campaign as the department has taken it to all areas across the country with the minister attending imbizos to inform the people," said Bloem.
He warned that those found by police to be in possession of illegal firearms during the amnesty period will be arrested and charged.
"People will not be charged if they voluntarily hand in their firearms. But they will be if police confiscate them during their operations. So the public should not think they are buying time," said Bloem.
By early Thursday morning the amnesty had netted 10 801 illegal firearms and 19 688 legal guns.
Bloem said indications were hundreds more weapons were handed in on Thursday as the deadline loomed.
- SAPA