Gun act 'not enforced'

2004-09-29 09:29

Enrico Claassen

Port Elizabeth - The new Gun Control Act is failing because it is poorly enforced, said Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula on Tuesday.

Nqakula agreed that a forum for gun users and dealers should be introduced to give them a voice to address the controversial aspects of the new law.

He told gun dealers, hunters and representatives of gun associations that "it is a good act in principle", but that there was a great deal of dissatisfaction because a lot was lacking in the implementation of the act.

"We did not design the legislation to prevent responsible people from selling, buying or using guns. We designed it to prevent irresponsible gun owners from causing the unnecessary deaths of others. Unfortunately, the processes that must enforce the act are not working effectively," Nqakula said.

He said about 18 000 people were murdered in the 2002/03 financial year, half of them with illegal guns.

He said criminals were finding it increasingly easy to steal guns because these were not properly taken care of.

- Die Burger