The South African Policing Union (SAPU) has called on Police Minister, Bheki Cele to cancel firearm amnesty.
The union has labelled it problematic and claims it undermines accountability.
#PoliceMinistry Minister of Police Gen #BhekiCele during the media breafing thanked all citizen who are surrennding their firearms adhering to the call to surrender their firearms during the amnesty period. #GunsOffTheStreets TM pic.twitter.com/4AofY7ZuGp
— SA Police Service (@SAPoliceService) January 14, 2020
This comes after Cele declared a firearm amnesty period between the first of December and May 31st. This allows for individuals to hand over their illegal or unwanted firearms to various police stations across the country.
#PoliceMinistry Minister of Police Gen #BhekiCele appeals to the nation to use the amnesty period which will go through until the end of May 2020. He further said when the period ends, law will be tough on those who persist on carrying unlicensed guns. #GunsOffTheStreets TM pic.twitter.com/3ZT2wbKgWG
— SA Police Service (@SAPoliceService) January 14, 2020
All the surrendered guns will undergo ballistic tests to check if they haven’t been used in the commission of a crime.
#PoliceMinistry Speaker Notes by Police Minister General #BhekiCele at the handover of firearms for #FirearmAmnesty period hosted in Linden police station; Johannesburg #GunsOffTheStreets MEhttps://t.co/kh7aKZ8W2a pic.twitter.com/EdXadEPXaT
— SA Police Service (@SAPoliceService) January 14, 2020
National Spokesperson, Oscar Skommere says, “We are opposed to this firearm amnesty as we feel it undermines accountability. We are also opposed to processes that will legitimise lawlessness. The minister must not give mercy to criminals. The country is grappling with violent crimes because of illegal firearms.”
Taking advantage of the Amnesty
This week, an arms dealer handed in close to 300 guns and about 3000 rounds of ammunition to the Linden Police Station in Johannesburg.
Chris Van Den Bergh decided to take advantage of the Firearm Amnesty, where people are being urged to surrender illegal and unwanted guns.
“I don’t want them anymore. I could hand them in anytime because it’s not stolen guns. It’s not illegal firearms. They are not illegal in my possession, it’s just that I don’t want them anymore. They don’t have commercial value. I can’t sell it. I give it to the police to destroy it. I could do it anytime, it’s convenient to do it now.”
