The renewal of gun licences will not be extended and Tuesday at midnight is the deadline, police director Phuti Setati said.Setati said gun owners had had 15 months to renew their licences and it was not the fault of the SA Police Service (SAPS) if they chose to do their renewals at the eleventh hour.
"Gun owners should get to the assigned police stations before 12 midnight if they want to be assisted."
"Members from police head offices around the country have been sent out to police stations to help with the process."
"We cannot be held responsible for the long queues at the police stations but we will not turn people away if they are there before the cut-off time," he said.
He added that all persons who apply for renewal of firearm licences, permits or authorisations after the expiry date could be prosecuted.
"If convicted in a court of law, they may be sentenced to up to one year imprisonment or to a fine.
"Such convictions may also lead to a person being disqualified to possess a firearm, in the future," he said
If gun owners chose not to renew their firearm licences they should dispose of the weapons before July 1, 2009.
He said people could legally dispose of firearms by having them deactivated by a licensed gunsmith after approval by the SAPS or by selling the firearm to a licensed firearm dealer.
"Firearm owners can also sell or donate the firearm to another person with an appropriate firearm licence or they can voluntarily hand the firearm to the SAPS for destruction," he said.
Source : Sapa /sg/gj
Date : 31 Mar 2009 10:22
