POLITICS

800,000 firearm license applications not yet processed - FF+

So far 499,043 applications have been approved, 15,766 rejected

1,365 MILLION FIREARM LICENCE APPLICATIONS

The Minister of Police, Mr. Nathi Mthethwa, has confirmed that there has been 1 365 203 applications for the renewal of firearm licences in terms of the new Firearms Control Act (Firearms Act) since the Act coming into force until the end of October of this year. He was replying to a question of Mr. Pieter Groenewald of the Freedom Front Plus in Parliament. Of these applications, 499 043 have been approved, 15 766 denied and 2 009 are on appeal.

"These figures confirm that the backlog in the processing of the applications by the Police is more than 800 000. It is basically impossible that the undertaking of the Minister that the backlog in the renewal of licences of firearms will be completed within nine months will be met. What is also worrying is that there are approximately four million firearms in the country and only 1,3 million applications for re-licensing was received.

More than 2,7 million firearms are therefore still on the old system in terms of the previous Act. It confirms the view and supports the FF Plus' proposal to the Minister that all old licences should remain legal and only new purchases of firearms should be licensed in terms of the new Act," Mr. Pieter Groenewald (MP), the chief spokesperson on Police for the Freedom Front Plus said.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY - FOR WRITTEN REPLY - QUESTION NO 3197

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 5 NOVEMBER 2010 (INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 36- 2010)

Date reply submitted: 23 November 2010

3197. Mr P J Groenewald (FF Plus) to ask the Minister of Police:

(1) How many applications for the renewal of firearm licences in terms of the Firearm Control Act, Act 60 of 2000, have been received to date;

(2) how many of these applications were (a) approved, (b) rejected, (c) taken on appeal and (d) processed in full;

(3) whether he will make a statement on the matter?

NW4007E

REPLY:

(1) A total number of 1 365 203 applications for the renewal of firearm licences have been received since the implementation of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000) up to 2010-10-31.

(2) (a) Approved: - 499 043

(b) Rejected: - 15 766

(c) Taken on Appeal: - 2 009

(d) All the above have been processed in full by the Police

(3) As the Minister of Police I recently held a press conference on this matter and as such, I have already made a clear statement on this and other issues surrounding Firearm Licensing.

Reply to question 3197 approved by Minister

Statement issued by Mr. Pieter Groenewald, FF Plus Spokesperson: Police, November 25 2010

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