36/1/4/1/201300024
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 189
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 22 FEBRUARY 2013
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 2-2013)
Date reply submitted: 12 March 2013
189. Ms A van Wyk (ANC) to ask the Minister of Police:
(1) What number of firearm-free zones were declared since the enactment
of the Firearms Control Act, Act 60 of 2000;
(2) whether any firearm-free zones were declared in the (a) 2009-10, (b)
2010-11 and (c) 2011-12 financial years; if not, what is the position
in this regard; if so, in each case, what (i) is the number and (ii)
are the names of the zones that were declared;
(3) whether he intends to declare any firearm-free zones in the near
future; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are
the relevant details
(4) whether he will make a statement on the matter?
NW203E
REPLY:
(1) No Firearm Free Zones were officially declared in terms of the
Firearms Control Act 2000 (Act 60 of 2000) since the enactment of the
Firearms Control Act, Act 60 of 2000.
(2) No Firearm Free Zones were declared during the (a) 2009-2010, (b)
2010-11 and (c) 2011-12 financial years.
(3) Yes, Firearm Free Zones will be declared if it is in the public
interest or upon application by interested parties. Firearm Free Zones
will be declared once identified areas have been assessed and
discussions with relevant stakeholders have been finalized and upon
application by other stake holders.
(4) During 2004, the then Minister for Safety and Security published a
Notice in the Gazette declaring his intention to declare all schools
as firearm free zones. After intensive consultations with the
Department of Education, that Department indicated that it wishes to
deal with the schools in terms of a Regulations issued under the
Schools Act, 1996, to address all dangerous objects and not only
firearms. Subsequently the then Minister of Education published
Regulations made under section 61 of the Schools Act, 1996, in
theGazette, in which the possession at schools of drugs and dangerous
objects are prohibited. âDangerous objectâ in terms of this notice is
defined as meaning:
(a)any explosive material or device;
(b)any firearm or gas weapon;
(c) any article, object or instrument which may be employed to
cause bodily harm to a person, or to render a person
temporarily paralysed or unconscious, or to cause damage to
property; or
(d) any object which the Minister may by notice in the Gazette
declare to be a dangerous object for the purposes of these
Regulations;unless such objects are used for education
purposes.
These Regulations clearly state that a public school is not exempted
from complying with the provisions of any other applicable law and is
intended to support such applicable laws.
Further discussions will be held with the relevant Department to
declare Schools as Firearm Free Zones in terms of the applicable
Firearm Control Legislation.
Reply to question 189 approved by the Minister
