ATC191024: Report of the Portfolio Committee on Police on the Firearms Amnesty declaration dated 24 October 2019.

Police

[The following report replaces the Report of the Portfolio Committee on Police, which was published on page 97 of the Announcements, Tablings and Committee Reports, dated 30 October 2019]

Report of the Portfolio Committee on Police on the Firearms Amnesty declaration dated 24 October 2019.

 

The Portfolio Committee on Police, having considered the notice from the Speaker of the National Assembly, that was referred to it on 28 August 2019 (ATC No. 51 - 2019) for a declaration of a firearm amnesty in terms of section 139(2)(a) of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000), reports as follows:

The Committee met on 11 September 2019 to consider the request for the amnesty and found that there were technical problems with the presentation of the South African Police Service (SAPS) as well as the required documentation. The Committee resolved to request the SAPS to correct the defects. The Committee resumed on 23 October 2019 to scrutinise the further documentation. All the necessary documents were made available to the Committee Members and based thereon, the Committee approved the Minister’s request for an amnesty period. The Committee amended the proposed amnesty period from 1 October 2019 to31 March 2020 to 01 December 2019 to 31 May 2020.

The Committee also requested the Minister of Police to consider declaring a separate process for the renewal of expired licences that should run concurrently to the amnesty period.

 

The Democratic Alliance has reserved its rights with regard to the report.

 

Report to be considered.