Arms amnesty period to start

2004-12-01 22:29

Johannesburg - A three-month amnesty period to hand-in any illegal firearms and ammunition begins on January 1 2005, the department of safety and security said on Wednesday.

The department said: "For a period of 90 days starting from January 1 2005, until March 31 2005, the public will be given an opportunity to surrender illegal firearms and ammunition in their possession to any police station in South Africa without fear of prosecution."

Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula announced the amnesty in terms of the Firearms Control Act, 2000.

The amnesty does not extend to any offences committed with illegal firearms.

Those wanting to take advantage of the amnesty should hand in their firearms and ammunition at any police station or call the national firearms call-centre on 012 353 6111 for assistance. The firearms and ammunition will be destroyed.

Nqakula said: "The large pool of illegal firearms in South Africa constitutes a major contributing factor to the high rate of serious and violent crime."

- SAPA