Firearms Control Amendment Bill: voting

Meeting report

SELECT COMMITTEE ON SECURITY AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
12 November 2003
FIREARMS CONTROL AMENDMENT BILL: VOTING

Chairperson: Mr M Mokoena (ANC)

Documents handed out:
The Firearms Control Amendment Bill [B28B-2003]

SUMMARY
Dr P Jacobs, Assistant Commissioner of the South African Police Service, explained to the Committee that the Firearms Control Amendment Bill was drafted to amend the original Firearms Control Act (2000). He went through the amendments and then the Committee voted unanimously to adopt the Bill.

MINUTES
Dr Jacobs presented the amendments and focussed on Clauses 59 and 140. The former pertained to the inclusion of registered apprentices, and not only holders of gunsmith licences, to perform additional functions. Section 140 proposed that the Minister should inform the public of which premises were declared firearm-free zones. It had also been recommended that a certificate of competence be a prerequisite before anyone received a firearm licence.

Discussion
Mr P Maloyi (ANC) asked if all regulations to Acts were presented to Parliament. Mr Jacobs confirmed this.

The Chair then asked if future regulations could be sent to smaller government committees and Select Committees. Mr C Ackerman (NNP) agreed this was needed.

Mr Maloyi asked Mr Jacobs to again explain the difference between a licence and a certificate. Mr Jacobs said that the authorisation of those documents differed. Once the Arms and Ammunition Act was enacted, a Certificate of Competence would first have to be awarded to a firearm holder before the granting of a Firearm Licence.

Mrs E Lubidla (ANC) asked whether every licenced owner would have to reapply after the Arms and Ammunition Act was implemented. Mr Jacobs stated that Act would insist on the renewal of firearm licences but that existing firearm licences would still be valid for the next five years.

The Committee unanimously agreed to pass the Firearms Control Amendment Bill.

The meeting was adjourned.