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Media verklaring - 26 Julie 2021
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Onttrek die vuurwapenwetgewing: Brief aan Minister Cele
(Scroll down for English statement)
UITTREKSELS VAN ʼn BRIEF AAN DIE MINISTER VAN POLISIE: MNR BHEKI CELE
DEUR DIE HOOFSEKRETARIS VAN DIE AFRIKANERBOND: JAN BOSMAN
Insake: Die Voorgestelde Vuurwapenbeheer wetsontwerp waarvan kommentaar op 2 Augustus 2021 ingedien moet word
- Trek die wetsontwerp in geheel terug en besin oor die hele proses. Soek eerder vennote in die stryd teen misdaad en anargie
Terwyl dit die staat se taak, ondersteun deur die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisie en weermag, is om wet en orde af te dwing en stabiliteit te verseker, het dit in die laaste weke geblyk, nie die geval te wees nie. Regoor die land moes Suid-Afrikaners hulself, hul families en hul eiendomme terselfdertyd beveilig in ʼn tyd van grootskaalse onluste en anargie. Die skade en dodetal sou waarskynlik veel meer en erger gewees het in ʼn ontwapende omgewing, soos wat dit in die voorgestelde wetsontwerp voorsien word. Daar is tans geen aanduiding dat die situasie sodanig verbeter het om die publiek se vertroue eensklaps in beide die polisie en die weermag te bevestig nie.
Dit het intussen sedert die grootskaalse onruste begin het, duidelik geblyk dat interne woelinge in die regering groter onrustigheid en onsekerheid skep. Buite die regering is daar ook opposisiepartye en buite-parlementêre groepe wat baat by rassespanning en gevolglik teer op emosie en aanhitsing.
In hierdie tyd van verhoogde spanning is dit allermins die tyd om met die voorgestelde wetgewing Suid-Afrikaners regoor die politieke en rasspektrum te ontneem van hul vuurwapens. Die Vuurwapenbeheer Konsepwetgewing word gesien as nog ʼn aanslag op eiendomsreg en in die geval is dit vuurwapen onteiening van Suid-Afrikaanse burgers.
In ʼn land waarin 8,3 uit elke 100 000 van Suid-Afrikaanse burgers vermoor word (4 976 in die eerste drie maande van 2021) en wanneer kontakmisdaad toeneem en daar gemiddeld een plaasaanval per dag is, is dit ondenkbaar dat die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisie dit as teiken stel om gewone wetsgehoorsame mense te ontwapen, in ʼn tyd wanneer vuurwapens en selfverdediging juis hul enigste buffer is teen algehele anargie.
Dit sou in die lig van omstandighede soos bo beskryf en veel meer inligting waaroor die minister waarskynlik beskik – dus eerder wenslik wees om eerder die voorgestelde wetgewing in sy geheel te onttrek. Tans is daar druk op instellings om kommentaar teen 2 Augustus 2021 in te dien. Die Minister weet dat die meerderheid kommentaar in elk geval gekant is teen die voorgestelde wetgewing.
Gebruik dan eerder die kapasiteit en hulpbronne waaroor die Minister beskik om die bestaande vermoëns uit brei en te verstewig. Dit sou insluit ʼn totale herskikking van die Suid-Afrikaanse vuurwapenregister om ʼn ordelike proses daar te stel waarbinne Suid-Afrikaners wel wettige eienaars word. Hiermee kan die SAPD en Suid-Afrikaners wat wettig oor vuurwapens beskik dan eerder ʼn potensiële vennootskap sluit in ʼn gesamentlike stryd teen misdaad.
Doen die Minister dit nie en hy ontneem Suid-Afrikaners steeds van vuurwapens, is die potensiaal van vervreemding en ongehoorsaamheid groter. Suid-Afrika sal sonder slag of stoot in ʼn slagveld en bloedbad omskep word met toenemende misdaadterreur en anargie.
Datum: 26 Julie 2021
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EXTRACTS FROM LETTER TO THE MINISTER OF POLICE: MR BHEKI CELE
FROM THE CHIEF SECRETARY OF THE AFRIKANERBOND: JAN BOSMAN
Referring to the Firearms Control Amendment Bill, comments on which must be submitted by 2 August 2021
- Withdraw the legislation in its entirety and reflect on the whole process. Rather opt to seek partners in the fight against crime and anarchy.
While it is the state's responsibility, supported by the South African Police and Defence Force, to enforce law and order and ensure stability, in recent weeks it has failed to carry out this mandate. Across the country, it fell to South Africans to secure themselves, their families and their properties at a time of large-scale riots and anarchy. The damage and death toll were bound to have been much greater in a disarmed environment, as envisaged in the proposed bill. There is currently no indication that the situation has improved sufficiently to restore the public's confidence in either the police or the defence force.
Meanwhile, it has been evident from the extensive riots that internal turmoil in the government is creating an ever worsening climate of unease and uncertainty. Outside of government, there are also opposition parties and extra-parliamentary groups that are fuelling racial tensions through emotion and incitement.
In this time of heightened tension, the last thing that South Africans across the political and racial spectrum need is to be deprived of their firearms by means of the proposed legislation. The Firearms Control Draft Legislation is regarded as yet another attack on property rights — in this case, South African citizens’ firearms will be expropriated.
In a country where 8.3 out of every 100 000 South African citizens are murdered (4 976 in the first three months of 2021), and given the escalation in contact crime and the occurrence on average of one farm attack per day, it is inconceivable that the South African Police should aim to disarm ordinary law-abiding citizens. This, at a time when firearms and self-defence are their only buffer against total anarchy.
The circumstances described above — and a substantial amount of additional information that the Minister likely possess — dictate that the proposed legislation be withdrawn in its entirety. Currently, institutions are being pressurised to submit comments by 2 August 2021. The Minister knows that the majority of comments indicate strong opposition to the proposed legislation.
It is suggested that the Minister rather use the capacity and resources at his disposal to expand and strengthen the existing capabilities. This would include a complete revision of the South African Firearms Register to establish an orderly process for South Africans to become legal firearm owners. In this way, the SAPS and South Africans who legally possess firearms, can then rather conclude a potential partnership in a joint fight against crime.
If the Minister refrains from doing so and insist on depriving South Africans of the right to possess firearms, it would greatly increase the potential for alienation and disobedience. Without any recourse to the means to protect themselves, South Africans would be led like lambs to the slaughter amidst ever increasing levels of crime and anarchy.
Date: 26 July 2021
