Chairperson, hon members, regarding the approval by Parliament of the request by the Minister of Police, members would know that firearms are the most commonly used weapons in the commission of violent crimes. Recently released crime statistics show that for 87% of business robberies, 73% of house robberies and 57% of street robberies committed between April last year and March this year, firearms, particularly illegal firearms, were used.
The 2,1% increase in illegal possession of firearms and ammunition during 2008-09, is noted primarily as a result of the SA Police Service actions such as crime intelligence, roadblocks and searches, all point in one direction: the abundant availability of illegal firearms in our communities.
The call by the President, His Excellency the hon J G Zuma, to do everything possible to reduce the pool of firearms in the country is perfectly correct. This amnesty is therefore correct. It is informed by and responds to the President's call. We are calling upon all citizens to heed the call by effectively making use of this amnesty period, which starts on 11 January 2010 until 11 April 2010, a period of three months.
Firstly, this amnesty will allow those who illegally possess firearms and do not wish to keep them to surrender them to members of the SA Police Service at their nearest police station. According to the Firearms Control Act, such a person may not be prosecuted for having been in possession of that firearm without an appropriate licence, permit or authorisation or for having been in unlawful possession of a firearm capable of discharging ammunition.
Secondly, the amnesty will allow a person who is illegally in possession of a firearm, but willing to keep it, to surrender it to members of the SA Police Service at their nearest police station and apply for a licence at that police station or any other police station. If the licence is granted, the firearm will then be returned to the licence holder.
In all the conditions stated above, the person's details will be taken down by a member of the SAPS as the Portfolio Committee on Police is of the view that an anonymous amnesty process will be open to abuse, and the Minister agrees with the portfolio committee. Lessons learned in the 2005 amnesty, wherein about 98 000 firearms were recovered, will help South African police officers to improve the administration process this time around. It is in this spirit that we call upon everybody to maximally utilise this opportunity. The Portfolio Committee on Police, having considered the request by the Minister of Police, the hon Mthethwa, for approval by this House of the declaration of amnesty in terms of the Firearms Control Act, Act No 60 of 2000, recommends that the House, in terms of section 139(2)(a) of that Act, approve the said declaration as amended.
Sicela wonke amalungu akule Ndlu ashumayele leli vangeli lozwelo noma likashwele wokubuyiselwa kwezibhamu ezingekho emthethweni eziteshini zamaphoyisa, aqale ngathi, kuye komakhelwane kanye nezihlobo zethu. Siyabonga. [Ihlombe.] (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)
[We ask all the members of this House to spread the word of pardon or amnesty for those who take their unlicensed firearms to the police stations, starting with us, then our neighbours and our relatives. Thank you. [Applause.]]
Mrs L S Chikunga, as chairperson of the committee, introduced the Report.
There was no debate.
Question put: That the Declaration of Amnesty in terms of the Firearms Control Act (Act No 60 of 2000) be approved, subject to amendments.
Question agreed to.
Declaration of Amnesty in terms of the Firearms Control Act (Act No 60 of 2000) approved, subject to amendments.