Surrender firearms during amnesty period
Community members have until May 31 to surrender illegal or unwanted firearms without being prosecuted.
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The amnesty period for surrendering a firearm that started on December 1 will continue until May 31, according to SAPS.
The firearm amnesty period provides an opportunity for members of the community to surrender unwanted firearms and ammunition, firearms possessed unlawfully, as well as firearm parts to the SAPS without fear of being prosecuted for the unlawful possession thereof.
Firearms that can be surrendered include:
• Unwanted firearms which relates to firearms that are lawfully in someone’s possession that their owners no longer need; or firearms that are unsafe to use or in a poor state; and firearms that were inherited from a deceased person which a person is not interested in keeping.
• Illegal firearms to be surrendered are any firearms or firearm parts which are not licensed and possessed in accordance with the Firearm Control Act. This includes firearms or firearm parts that are not registered to the current owner, doesn’t have a serial number or is possessed by a person who doesn’t have a licence for that firearm.
The Firearm Control Act further allows the person surrendering a firearm to apply for a licence for such a firearm.