Zuma: Tougher gun laws to come
JOBURG - President Jacob Zuma has acknowledged calls for a review of gun control laws and reiterated the government’s intention to look into more stringent gun regulations.
During his National Council of Provinces address, Zuma said the government was concerned about the increase in the number of guns and the level of violent crimes in South Africa.
“We are seriously concerned about the proliferation of guns in our society and the level of violence that we have seen on display,” Zuma said.
“To this end, police will take advantage of the proposed changes in the Firearms Control Act to introduce more stringent measures for gun control and ownership.”
Zuma comments followed calls by the ANC for a review of the Firearms Control Act in the wake of the fatal shooting of Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa and the shooting of ANC MP Jackson Mthembu.
“The time has come for us as a nation to review existing gun control measures with a view to limit access to guns that end [up] in the wrong hands,” ANC spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said last month.
The party also called on the judiciary to show no mercy for those in possession of illegal guns and those who were guilty of negligence.
“Maximum sentences should be imposed as a deterrent against those in possession and those who use these guns to mow down other human beings,” the ANC said in a tweet.
Making illegal weapons more illegal will not solve the problem. Effective and corruption free enforcement is what is required.