Report of the Select Committee on Security and Constitutional Development on the Declaration of an Amnesty in terms of Section 139(2)(a) of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No 60 of 2000), dated 04 November 2009:

The Select Committee on Security and Constitutional Development, having considered the request for approval by Parliament of the Declaration of an Amnesty in terms of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000), recommends that the National Council of Provinces, in terms of section 139 (2) (a) of the Act, approve the Declaration subject to the following amendments:

1. That the words “No details of the person who hands in the firearm will be taken down, if the person wishes to utilize the anonymous process for amnesty“ in paragraph “(a)” of the Declaration be deleted.

2. That the words “Proper audit processes must be put in place to ensure the auditing of the records of all firearms, surrendered anonymously in terms of this amnesty” that appear in the second last paragraph of the Declaration also be deleted.

The Select Committee is of the view that an anonymous amnesty process will be open to abuse.

Report to be considered.