Yusuf Abramjee
South Africans caught with illegal firearms face “the full force of the law” if caught now that an amnesty program ended Sunday at midnight, says the official heading the program.
Yusuf Abramjee, who runs Crime Line, an amnesty program that started in January that allowed South Africans to turn in illegal firearms without conviction, says those now caught can face up to 25 years in prison.
The amnesty program falls during a time when the ANC-led government has placed tightened restrictions on legal gun owners. Those who carry their guns in public must now carry the relevant firearms liscense and their identity document and immediately produce them if asked by police, officials have warned.
Although the law targets illegal firearms, Abramjee included legal gun owners in his cross-hairs. “Time has run out for gun-owners to surrender their legal and illegal firearms as the gun amnesty period draws to a close today (Sunday),” he said in a press conference.
Legal gun owners in South Africa have been left confused by the double-speak that has characterized the amnesty period. SA Gunowners’ Association (Saga) spokesman Martin Hood said the police ministry was acting in bad faith by saying the amnesty period must be used to update old firearm licenses.
“By presenting the amnesty as an opportunity for firearm owners to surrender their licensed firearms and any right they have to compensation, the minister is misleading the public in an opportunistic attempt to serve political objectives,” Hood said.
Hood advised legal gun owners with old licenses to not upgrade them, although they were welcome to do so if they wished. “Either way, there are no guarantees,” Hood said.
Abramjee also took an Orwellian twist in urging South Africans to turn in “anyone, be it a neighbour, friend, family member or colleague who has an illegal firearm or know where such a firearm is hidden” to “blow the whistle and SMS your detailed anonymous tip-off to 32211 or visit the crimeline website.”
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This is coming here. The next initiative by the FO, round em up.