Gun amnesty
Parliament approves another firearm amnesty period
Parliament has approved another firearm amnesty. The amnesty will end in January next year.
The gun amnesty period began in December and will last until May.
Police portfolio committee chairperson Francois Beukman says the committee will consider Police Minister Bheki Cele's request and then forward the matter to the National Assembly for approval.
The illegal weapons surrendered during the three-month gun amnesty, the first in 20 years, will be destroyed.
South Africa ran its first gun amnesty in 1994, where people could hand over illegal firearms for a certain period and not receive punishment.
Police Minister Nathi Nhleko says the Planned Firearm Amnesty is aimed at reducing the number of illegal firearms in circulation.
Last week, Cabinet announced a decision was taken to allow people to hand over illegal firearms to police without facing charges.