Firearms amnesty set to begin
2004-12-31 12:31
Johannesburg - A three-month amnesty period in which to hand in illegal firearms and ammunition starts on January 1, the Department of Safety and Security said on Friday.
People can hand in illegal firearms and ammunition to any police station in South Africa without fear of prosecution until March 31 2005, said safety and security spokesperson Trevor Bloem.
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.
Bloem recommended that people wishing to take advantage of the amnesty should first visit their nearest police station without the illegal firearms and ammunition to pick up a receipt for the weapons.
They should then return to the police station with the illegal weapons and receipt.
This would ensure that they were not caught in possession of illegal weapons without a police receipt.
People needing further information could call the national firearms call centre on 012-353-6111 for assistance.
Police will destroy the firearms and ammunition handed in during the amnesty.
- SAPA