Black gunowners suing for R3bn

2005-09-02 22:43

Michele O'Connor

Cape Town - The South African Black Gunowners Association (Sabga) is suing the government for billions of rands because of gun-licence applications constantly being turned down.

They claim 99.9% of all Sabga members' applications for gun licences have been rejected.

Sabga chairperson Amos Khoele said on Friday the application had been submitted to Pretoria High Court.

"More than 10 000 of the 20 000 association members have been robbed in the past year.

"Many were wounded and some were even murdered.

"They are not allowed to use their weapons in self-defence as applications for renewal of their licences are rejected en masse.

"Most of the association's members are businessmen who handle thousands of rands daily."

New act 'a political issue'

Khoele said the association was claiming R3.2bn from the government for damages and losses as a result of the new legislation controlling firearms and ammunition, which came into operation in July last year.

Khoele said the new act was a political issue - it is the government's way of disarming especially the black people.

"The government knows it has made specific promises to black voters.

"Now, the government is afraid these voters may use their firearms because it is not keeping its promises.

"This act is a new form of suppression. The act is also a waste of time and money.

"All it will achieve is to encourage black people to possess illegal firearms."

Khoele claimed Jaco Bothma, director of the police's central firearms registry, did not even reply to questions from owners.

'Outrageous' costs

"He does not even know how long it will take to renew a licence. As the situation is at present, it may take as long as five years," said Khoele.

The new stipulations resulted in outrageous costs, he said.

Previously, it cost R5 500 to get a licensed gun, which included the gun, training, a gun safe and the revenue stamps.

He said that now the cost had almost doubled and the charges for training, the competency certificate and the licence itself were shockingly high.

"This does not even include the price of the weapon and a gun safe," he said.

- Die Burger