Chairperson and hon members, this Parliament once passed what we call the Firearms Control Act. We passed the Armscor Act as well. The Minister of Safety and Security once made a call that people should surrender all illegal firearms, and that was done. He even went further to give amnesty to people who complied with that kind of a call, and that was done.
We are now presenting to this Council another piece of legislation that seeks to prohibit or restrict certain conventional weapons. As usual, the committee deliberated on the provisions of this Bill and effected some amendments. Those amendments aim to improve or enhance the implementation thereof. We even brought in some amendments to the definitions that were welcomed warmly by the departments and our legal advisers.
As we know, there is some ammunition that cannot be used without the permission of the state. There is an agreement between our country, South Africa, and other countries, even the UN, that we had to approve an Act whereby we restrict or prohibit the use of those kinds of ammunition. All nondetectable fragments, booby-traps and other devices are restricted or prohibited in terms of this provision.
There is a provision that gives people who might be in possession of those kinds of ammunition that are prohibited a chance to go and surrender them. The requirements on how to surrender them have been regulated. If you are in possession of these prohibited or restricted weapons, what you need to do is go to your nearest police officer to notify them of those kinds of ammunition that are prohibited. We want to avoid people carrying these ammunition to the police stations. The danger thereof is, let's say you take this prohibited ammunition to the police station and there is a road block before you reach the police station where you find police officers, etc there at that road block, it will be very difficult for you to convince them and say: "No, I was going to the police station." Therefore, the committee, led by yours truly, made these amendments that were accepted by everybody. [Interjections.] No, no, no. Let people just notify policy officers or enforcement agencies. Then they will come and collect it from you. Once you sign that particular form, you will be out of it. You see, that is this committee for you.
What we have done in this provision is that we are allowing people, immediately after this Bill becomes an Act, six months to notify the state about those kinds of ammunition in their possession. What we are going to do, as South Africa, is to ensure that this Bill becomes an Act immediately. We had to inform the Secretary of the UN of this legislation that we have just enacted. That will be in terms of Article 14 of this convention. Of course, there will be people who will be exempted, for example some organs of state who are using some of these ammunition. Before they can use it or keep them in their possession, they have to get permission from the relevant departments.
The committee raised the concern that there are countries that, when these kinds of requirements are dictated to them, will be the first ones to pass this legislation, and after passing it, those particular countries will be the first ones to violate the same legislation. We are saying, let's come up with a mechanism that will advise our executive about what will happen to those countries who pass this legislation, but at the same time are the first ones to violate it. As you are aware, there are other countries that are bullied into agreeing to some of these laws. At the same time, what they will do when it suits them is to simply ignore whatever declaration was issued.
Let me thank my committee for their vigorous engagements on this Bill. As a norm, all members of this committee, regardless of the political affiliations, played the ball and not the man. You'll be surprised to know that we have been joined by this new member from the Northern Cape, hon Van der Merwe, who adjusted so quickly and fitted in so well to these detachments. [Laughter.] Thank you very much, hon Van der Merwe, for being such a dedicated member. He is one of the best players in our team. He fits in so well. Thank you, colleagues, for being such a dynamic and wonderful team. Chairperson, allow me now to, on behalf of these detachments, present this Bill to this Council and request that it be endorsed with those proposed amendments. I so submit. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
I shall now put the question. The question is that the Bill, subject to the proposed amendments, be agreed to.
In accordance with Rule 63, I shall first allow political parties the opportunity to make their declarations of vote if they so wish. We shall now proceed to the voting on the question. Those in favour will say "Aye" and those against will say "No". [Interjections.] I think the "Ayes" have it.
The majority of members voted in favour. I therefore declare the Bill, subject to the proposed amendments, agreed to. That concludes the business of the day.
Bill, subject to proposed amendments, agreed to in accordance with section 75 of the Constitution.