Deputy Chairperson, Deputy Minister and hon members, the Firearms Control Amendment Bill makes some adjustments to the original Firearms Control Act, which was introduced on 1 July 2004. The DA believes that the control and responsible management of firearms is important in any society. Legislation is, of course, necessary to control the use and possession of firearms.
However, this Act targets legal firearm owners and does not address the millions of illegal firearms that remain in the hands of the criminals. The purpose of such legislation should be to control and manage legal firearms and not to disarm law-abiding citizens. The weapons most commonly used in robberies and cash heists are AK-47s, R4 and R5 assault rifles, which ordinary members of the public do not possess or own. Meanwhile, the robberies, rapes, murders and mayhem continue unabated.
According to the latest annual report of the South African Police Service for 2005-06, 33 823 illegal firearms were surrendered in the extended amnesty period. Some 42 095 legal firearms were handed in voluntarily to the SAPS.
This, in effect, means that more legal firearms than illegal firearms were recovered; most as a result of owners, especially pensioners, who could not afford the cost of training and licensing that made keeping a firearm unaffordable. Many applications for a licence are rejected with the flimsiest of excuses, such as a lack of motivation. No compensation whatsoever is paid in respect of guns handed in. The SAPS states that legal firearms are often stolen from the public and then become illegal firearms, used in murders and robberies.
However, the Auditor-General states on page 131 of the annual report of the SAPS that some 2 297 firearms were either lost, stolen or robbed from the police themselves during the year 2005-06 compared with 735 the previous year - a 312% increase. The Auditor-General further states, and I quote:
Firearm registers were not properly maintained and weapon inspections were not performed at least twice a year.
A gun-free South Africa would be ideal, but until we can deal effectively with crime, our citizens must be able to protect themselves, their families and their property. On the TV programme Special Assignment, a team with hidden cameras were shown freely buying firearms, including a rapid firing gun capable of firing shotgun cartridges, for a nominal price.
Whilst the rapists and murderers obtain weapons illegally, the average law- abiding citizen is being systematically disarmed. Whilst there are purportedly some 2,5 million firearm owners in South Africa, who together own 3,6 million firearms, only 8 000 licences have been issued so far, with 1 000 applications being rejected. A further 20 000 licences are in the process of being issued. It would appear that only a small proportion of the original estimate of legal firearms in South Africa will eventually be registered.
A credible alternative to the existing Act could have been an extensive audit of all existing firearms, firearm licences and owners, instead of a costly mass renewal process.
The Firearms Control Act in its original form has met with heavy criticism, hence the ongoing amendments and tinkering with the Act to try and make it implementable. Paranoia has instead taken hold in the government. First, the commando units are disbanded and nothing effective is put in their place. [Interjections.] Then law-abiding citizens are systematically disarmed. Even old ... [Interjections.] ... firearms in museums are checked to ensure whether they are disabled. Now the large security business in South Africa is to be brought under the so-called "control by the state", and all of that because police are unable to do or incapable of doing their duty.
While this Bill focuses on things like silencers and muzzle-loading firearms, the robberies, rapes, murders and mayhem continue. The DA wishes to thank all the police who are on duty during this festive season and trust that it will be peaceful and that the rule of law and order will prevail. However, the DA can neither support this legislation, nor the amendment. I thank you. [Applause.]