Arms amnesty announced

2004-09-20 22:52

Pretoria - The government announced a special amnesty from Monday to encourage South Africans to surrender illegal firearms and ammunition.

The amnesty will be in place from October 1 to December 29, said Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula in Pretoria.

Those wanting to take advantage of the chance should contact their nearest police station to arrange a hand-over. All firearms and ammunition collected at the end of the period will be destroyed.

Nqakula said: "Our mandate in this country is to reduce crime and create conditions for peace and stability.

"One of the things we want to do is deal with the matter of firearms, particularly the illegal circulation of those weapons."

In terms of the latest crime statistics, 42.2% of murders, 73.9% of attempted murders and 78.4% of aggravated robberies committed in 2003 involved the use of a firearm.

Will undergo ballistics tests

Nqakula emphasised that the amnesty would extend only to the illegal possession of firearms - not to crimes committed with them.

"As we receive these firearms, they will be tested ballistically to check if they have been used in crimes."

The minister called on all citizens with illegal firearms and ammunition, and to those who knew of others who did, to come forward.

Those who did not use the opportunity would face the full wrath of the law, he warned.

"When this amnesty expires, we are going to mount operations and we will deal severely with people who we will find if they still have illegal firearms."

Nqakula was speaking at the release of the SA Police Service's annual report for 2003/'04, which contained the country's latest crime statistics.

National police commissioner Jackie Selebi told the briefing the police were ready to give effect to the new amnesty. Specialised members have been designated at each police station.

He pointed out that people would not qualify for amnesty for surrendering firearms they had stolen.

"We cannot give you amnesty for stealing."

- SAPA