Govt to propose gun ownership limit per person: Cele

Police minister Bheki Cele says limiting the number of firearms per person and curbing the issuing of firearm licences are some of the amendments government will propose to the Firearms Act.

Cele was addressing the media at the Linden Police station, north of Johannesburg, where he gave an update on the Firearm Amnesty on Tuesday.

#PoliceMinistry Minister of Police General #BhekiCele just received over 200 firearms surrendered by the Johannesburg arms dealer Mr Van den Berg @ Linden Police station, Gauteng. TM pic.twitter.com/9NqRliAG4b

— SA Police Service (@SAPoliceService) January 14, 2020

An arms dealer on Tuesday handed in close to 300 guns and about 3 000 rounds of ammunition at the Linden police station.

Over 2 000 guns and more than 30 000 rounds of ammunition have been surrendered in less than 50 days.

#PoliceMinistry Today Minister of Police Gen #BhekiCele & #NPC Gen Sitole will be receiving over 200 surrendered firearms & thousands rounds of ammunition from Johannesburg arms dealer @ Linden Police station. They will also give an update on the progress of the amnesty. TM pic.twitter.com/V4ndkjkuUF

— SA Police Service (@SAPoliceService) January 14, 2020

Cele says major changes to the Firearms Act are being proposed.

“One thing that we are trying to put there is that individuals should not have firearms. But it will be wonderful to have a country where individuals are not issued firearms. That is linked with the safety of the citizens which means that the government especially the agencies like police and others will have to pull up their socks … if people are not armed but must be safe,” explains the minister.