Huge backlog with gun licences

2004-08-02 17:16

Cape Town - A committee has been created to deal with a backlog of firearm licence applications, Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula said on Monday.

Replying to a written question from the Democratic Alliance (DA), he said 28 017 of these applications had been submitted in the past six months.

Another 2 865 licence applications had been outstanding for more than six months, Nqakula said.

Nqakula said: "A committee has been established to consider all firearm licence applications in order to ensure a standardised approach."

The minister added that new personnel were being employed in order to provide greater capacity within the Central Firearms Control Register to expedite the process of applications.

- SAPA