The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police has lauded the outcomes of today’s roundtable discussions as a progressive step in addressing challenges confronting firearm licensing processes in this country.
“Stakeholders at today’s discussions gave a commitment to improve the manner they interacted with each other and we believe this will go a long way in unblocking challenges inhibiting the efficacy of the country’s firearm licensing processes,” said Mr Francois Beukman, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police.
The roundtable was attended by SAPS and representatives from respective stakeholders in the firearms sector. These stakeholders, among other things, have agreed to have regular engagements in order to detect and address challenges well ahead of time.
Mr Beukman said this session was held as a means to address concerns raised by various firearms sector roleplayers in December last year. “If the public and civil society raises matters of concern regarding policing in this country or any matter related thereto, the committee is duty bound to assist in resolving those matters.”
Implementation of the commitments made here today will be closely monitored by the committee for the betterment of the country’s firearms licensing processes, the Central Firearms Registry and associated therewith.
Later this year, the Committee will process the much-anticipated Firearms Amendment Act where all stakeholders and South Africans will be encouraged to make their respective inputs.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact:
Temba Gubula
Tel: 021 403 8307
Cell: 078 735 8809 / 081 402 3531
E-mail: tgubula@parliament.gov.za
