An opportunity to surrender illegal guns and ammunition
Zululand SAPS spokesperson Captain Nkocy Gwala urges all residents of Vryheid to surrender any illegal or unwanted firearms at the SAPS offices in Landdrost Street opposite 'Oh My Goodness'
Parliament has approved an extension of the Firearm Amnesty to grant all illegal firearm owners yet another opportunity to hand in illegal firearms.
The extended period will run from August 1, 2020, until January 31, 2021. During the previous Firearm Amnesty period (December 2019 until May 2020), an astonishing 46,714 firearms were received by the South African Police Service (SAPS).
The SAPS believe that there are much more firearms that still need to be surrendered, and that the unexpected restrictions of Level 5 and 4 of the lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic hindered many gun owners from surrendering illegal firearms and ammunition. The Minister of Police, General Bheki Cele, approached Parliament in this regard and a new application for a six-month extension period was approved. This was published in the Government Gazette on July 31, effectively allowing all owners of illegal or unwanted firearms, as well as ammunition, to hand them in at their nearest police station. The SAPS urges people to use the opportunity of this extended period to hand in those firearms and ammunition either for destruction or renewal of a competency certificate and a valid licence.
The latest National Crime Statistics show that firearms are the preferred weapon of choice in most violent crimes. By reducing the circulation of illegal firearms, this may reduce the scourge of violent crimes in South Africa. It is important to note that no indemnity will be granted for any firearms which were used to commit a crime. Upon handing in the firearms, they will undergo ballistic testing to ensure that they have not been used in any criminal activities before being considered for destruction.
Zululand SAPS spokesperson Captain Nkocy Gwala urges all residents of Vryheid to surrender any illegal or unwanted firearms at the SAPS offices in Landdrost Street opposite ‘Oh My Goodness’. For general Firearm Amnesty enquiries, please contact the FLASH Call Centre on 012-353-6111 or email cfrenquiry@saps.gov.za
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