Post Date: 29 November 2021
Firearms Control Amendment Bill, 2021
SAGA Reaction to the Briefing by the South African Police Service to the Portfolio Committee on Police regarding Legislation Progress Report
26 November 2021
SAGA has received a copy of a PowerPoint presentation by the South African Police Service in which progress has been reported to the Portfolio Committee on Police (“PCoP”) on nine bills including the proposed Firearms Control Amendment Bill, 2021 (“FCA Bill”).
According to the presentation more than 118 000 public comments were received on the FCA Bill.
The presentation stated that the Drafting Team conducted several work sessions where comments that were considered practical were incorporated in the Bill. SAGA disputes this as no consultation was held with SAGA, nor other firearm organisations and stakeholders, until the Civilian Secretariat for Police (“CSOP”) convened a webinar for 11 and 12 November, which was ultimately postponed.
Despite the presentation to the PCoP stating that substantive requests for information in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act were received and had been attended to, several requests in this regard by SAGA have been ignored.
The report states further that the Chief State Law Adviser has requested a legal opinion on the constitutionality of the deletion of sections 13, 14, 17 and 18 of the Principal Act and that a response is awaited.
It however appears that the FCA Bill has been postponed and that the Bill in its current format will more than likely be redrafted.
SAGA will keep its members informed of any developments but according to press reports, it seems that the PCoP has decided to provisionally cease further discussions on the Bill.
Issued by THE SAGA TRUST
South African Gunowners’ Association (SAGA)
Office Tel: 031-562-9724 Fax: 086-553-9615
Email: saga@saga.org.za Website: www.saga.org.za
PO Box 35203, Northway, 4065