The Western Cape province will, as the only government with a clear project to combat crime actively and decisively, of course support any initiative that will bring down crime.
However, there was no proof put before the committee that firearms amnesty assists in this regard, even after it was asked. We believe the contrary to be true in recent years. Furthermore, South African Police Service doesn't have basic data readily available on firearms in their possession, they make no provision for the separation of renewal firearms from weapons to be destroyed, and 46 stations will
be excluded from this process, but the names of these aren't yet publicly known.
The South African Police Service is under the illusion that trust between them and the public has been restored and it cannot be absolutely guaranteed that these weapons will not, like in the past, end up in criminal hands.
There are also serious concerns about the training of SAPS to be able to enforce this amnesty effectively and correctly. What is more, in a recent reply to Parliament, it was acknowledged that SAPS lost 500 of its own service weapons. They also lost 9 million 9mm rounds of their own ammunition. If they can't even look after their own weapons, how will they be able to ensure that these weapons handed in - of which we have no guarantee about available storage space either - will not also disappear. This is over and above the fact that the actual criminals are usually not inclined to just hand in their firearms.
Deputy Chairperson, the purpose of firearms amnesty should be to reduce crime if it is in the public interest to do so. If the SAPS cannot guarantee its success, and we believe they absolutely cannot at this stage, then it is certainly not in the public interest.
For this reason, the Western Cape cannot support this initiative until such a time as the department and SAPS can give clarity and guarantees on these matters. The safety of the public comes first.
Question put: That the Report be adopted.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West.
AGAINST: Western Cape.
Report accordingly adopted in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.