The minister of police, General Bheki Cele, had announced the 2019/2020 Firearm Amnesty period which commenced on 1 December 2019 and extended to 21 May 2020.  The initial firearms amnesty had been approved by Parliament on 21 November 2019 for the period 1 December 2019 to 31 May 2020. During this period 27,336 firearms and 212,476 ammunition were surrendered. Gauteng recorded the highest number of firearms surrendered at 8,974. In the Western Cape 6,140 firearms were surrendered and 2,364 in KwaZulu-Natal. Furthermore, the Western Cape recorded the highest number of people voluntarily handing over firearms, at 961. There are 28 police stations that will be exempt from receiving firearms. In the interim, 10,704 applications for firearm licences have been received by police, with 147 applications finalized.

In terms of the Firearms Control Act, citizens are urged to surrender illegal and unwanted firearms without fear of prosecution, and the chance to reapply for their expired firearm licences. The reasons for the above are mainly to reduce the number of firearms in circulation in the country, provide firearm owners with the opportunity to hand in illegal and unwanted firearms and ammunition, prevent crime and violence, promote safety, address the fundamental causes of crime in order to effectively protect our communities and to ensure people living in South Africa feel safe. The South African Police Services (SAPS) made the request citing that gun owners did not have an opportunity to surrender their firearms as a result of the lockdown. Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Police has given its support for a new firearms amnesty period between 1 August and 31 January 2021. It will recommend to the National Assembly to approve the firearm amnesty 2020.

It is also worth mentioning that firearms in a deceased estate can be problematic and delay the finalization of the administration of the deceased estate.  Therefore we at Millers Attorneys would strongly advise our readers for those who have firearms that they don’t want, to make use of the amnesty period.

For additional information on how to deal with firearms in deceased estates, you are welcome to call our Estates Department on 044 874 1140.