The civil rights organisation AfriForum demands clarity on the situation with regard to firearms that are currently in the ANC’s possession.
An unknown number of firearms were granted to the ANC by the National Party government in those days because the ANC claimed that they had no confidence in the police to protect their members against political violence.
It is however unclear what became of the firearms and if these firearms were ever relicensed under the new firearm legislation of 2000. According to AfriForum a source close to Luthuli House confirmed that no record is kept of the firearms and that many have already gone missing.
“This yet again indicates the ANC’s double standards. In those days the party and its members did not have confidence in the police to protect them and they insisted on possessing firearms. Now that they are in charge and being protected by armed bodyguards at the expense of the taxpayer, they have the nerve to disarm the public,” says Jacques Broodryk, AfriForum’s Manager of Campaigns.
AfriForum appeals to all South Africans to participate in the public participation process with regard to the amendments to the firearm legislation by adding their name at www.myvuurwapen.co.za.