DA slates gun licence cost
2004-07-06 13:39
Cape Town - The cost of obtaining a gun licence under the Firearms Control Act, which came into effect last week, will leave many South Africans defenceless against criminals, the Democratic Alliance said on Tuesday.
"Government's obsession with controlling the activities of law-abiding citizens gives criminals the upper hand in South Africa," DA safety and security spokesman Roy Jankielsohn said.
The costs of obtaining a firearm license under the new act would be about R760.
The license would cost R70, a competency certificate R140, and training about R550.
This was 38% of the monthly income of an average household earning about R2 000, and more than a monthly state pension of R740 he said.
The aim of the act was to control legal firearms, not to disarm law-abiding citizens.
"The average South African will not be able to afford to renew or obtain licenses under the current act and its regulations.
"Many illegal firearms in South Africa are smuggled across our borders by illegal immigrants who use them as currency.
"The SAPS do not patrol our borders, yet the SAPS will spend millions on policing law-abiding citizens."
Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula should inform South Africans how he would protect them when they handed in their firearms.
Most South Africans, 23 000 of whom would be murdered in 2004, could not afford private security, and their licensed firearms were their only means of protection against criminals, Jankielsohn said.
- SAPA