An analysis of the implementation of the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000 in Ekurhuleni

Abstract

This study analyses the implementation of Firearms Control Act (FCA) 60 of 2000 in Ekurhuleni. The FCA 60 of 2000 regulates and manages the application for ownership, sale, possession, and usage of firearms in the Republic of South Africa of which the South Africa Police Service (SAPS) is responsible for its implementation to curb the proliferation of both legal and illegal firearms and its associated crimes. Ironically, firearms related crimes continued to increase despite its implementation. Therefore, this study addresses the question, are SAPS members implementing and enforcing the FCA 60 of 2000 effectively? To answer this question, this study endeavoured to find out whether there were challenges in the application of the FCA 60 of 2000. Qualitative research approach and design were employed. Purposive sampling was used to select participants. Literature review and 17 semi-structured interviews were used for data collection. Thematic analysis was used to identify the following emerged themes: understanding of the FCA 60 of 2000; understanding of the purpose of the FCA 60 of 2000; FCA 60 of 2000 effectiveness on the control of firearms in South Africa; perceptions on violent crimes involving firearms; exposure to training; accessibility of information; and compliance with the provisions of the Act. The general findings demonstrate that the FCA 60 of 2000 is not adequately enforced by the SAPS members due to poor knowledge and understanding of the Act. The main issue raised was lack of training on the FCA 60 of 2000. Recommendations were made to bring about improvement in the application and enforcement of the FCA 60 of 2000.

Dinyakisiso tse di sekasekile go phethagatswa ga Molao wa Taolo ya Dithunya (FCA) wa 60 wa 2000 ka Ekurhuleni. FCA e sepedisa le go laola dikgopelo tsa go ba beng ba dithunya, go di rekisa, go di swara le go di somisa ka Repabliking ya Afrika Borwa. Tirelo ya Maphodisa ya Afrika Borwa (SAPS) e rwele maikarabelo a go phethagatsa FCA le go lwantsha go phatlalatswa ga bobedi dithunya tse di lego molaong le tseo di sego molaong le bosenyi bjo bo amanago le go di phatlalatsa. Bosenyi bja go amana le dithunya bo tswetse pele go oketsega le ge go tsentswe tirisong molao wa FCA. Ka fao, dinyakisiso tse di arabile potsiso ye e latelago: Naa SAPS e tsenya tirisong le go phethagatsa FCA gabotse? Go araba potsiso ye, dinyakisiso tse di lekodisitse ge eba go itemogelwa ditlhohlo ge go phethagatswa FCA gomme ge go le bjale, ke ditlhohlo dife tse go itemogelwago tsona. Mokgwa wa dinyakisiso tsa boleng le tlhamo ya dinyakisiso tsa boleng e dirisitswe. Go dira sampole ka maikemisetso go dirisitswe go kgetha bakgathatema. Tekodisiso ya dingwalwa le dipoledisano tse 17 tseo dipotsiso tsa tsona di bego di nyaka gore batho ba fe maikutlo a bona di dirisitswe bjalo ka ditlabelo tsa go kgoboketsa tshedimoso. Tshekatsheko ya merero e dirisitswe ka nepo ya go utolla merero ye e latelago: kwesiso ya maphodisa a SAPS ya FCA; kwesiso ya maikemisetso a FCA ka maphodisa a SAPS; go soma gabotse ga FCA mabapi le go laola dithunya ka Afrika Borwa; maikutlo ka ga bosenyi bja dikgaruru bjo bo amanago le go somiswa ga dithunya; go hlahlwa ga maphodisa a SAPS; go fihlelelwa ga tshedimoso; le go obamela ditlhagiso tsa FCA. Dikutollo ka kakaretso di laetsa gore FCA ga e phethagatswe ka maleba ke SAPS, kudukudu ka lebaka la ge maphodisa a SAPS a hloka tsebo ya maleba le kwesiso ka ga Molao wo. Tlhohlo ye kgolo ye e bonwego e bile tlhokego ya tlhahlo mabapi le FCA. Ditshisinyo di dirilwe mabapi le ka fao go ka tsenywago tirisong le go phethagatsa FCA.

Lolu cwaningo luhlaziya ukusetshenziswa komthetho wolawulo lwezibhamu i-Firearms Control Act (FCA) 60 ka 2000 endaweni ye-Ekurhuleni. Umthetho we-FCA ulawula kanye nokuphatha ukwenziwa kwezicelo zobunikazi, ukuthengiswa, ukuba nazo kanye nokusetshenziswa kwezibhamu eRiphabliki yeNingizimu Afrika. Abamaphoyisa aseNingizimu Afrika abe-South African Police Service (SAPS) babhekana nokusetshenziswa komthetho we-FCA ukuvimbela ukwanda nokusabalala kakhulu kwezibhamu ezisemthethweni nezingekho emthethweni kanye nobugebengu obuhambisana nokusabalala kakhulu kwezibhamu. Ubugebengu obuhambisana nezibhamu buqhubekile nokwanda ngisho noma kunokusetshenziswa komthetho we-FCA. Ngakho-ke, lolu cwaningo lubhekane nombuzo olandelayo: Ngabe abe-SAPS basebenzisa kanye nokuqikelela ukulandelwa komthetho we-FCA ngokusebenza kahle nokunempumelelo? Ukuphendula lo mbuzo, lolu cwaningo luhlole ukuthi ngabe kukhona izinselele okuhlangatshezwana nazo ekusebenziseni umthetho we-FCA, uma kunjalo, yini lezi zinselele okuhlangatshezwana nazo. Kwasetshenziswa inqubo yocwaningo lwe-qualitative kanye nedizayini ye-qualitative kulolu cwaningo. Kwasetshenziswa isampuli ye-purposive ukukhetha ababambiqhaza kucwaningo. Kwabuyekezwa imibhalo kanye nokwenziwa ama-interview angahlelekile kakhulu (semi-structured) angu 17 njengezindlela zokuqoqa ulwazi. Ukuhlaziyiwa kwezihloko kwasetshenziswa kulezi zihloko ezilandelayo: Ukuqondisisa kwamalunga abe-SAPS umthetho we-FCA; ukuqondisisa kwamalunga abe-SAPS inhloso yomthetho we-FCA; ukusebenza kahle ngokuyimpumelelo komthetho we-FCA mayelana nolawulo lwezibhamu eNingizimu Afrika; imibono yabantu ngobugebengu bodlame oluhambisana nezibhamu; uqeqesho lwamalunga abe-SAPS; ukutholakala kalula kolwazi; kanye nokulandelwa kokubekwe kumthetho we-FCA. Okutholakele ngokunabile kukhombisa ukuthi umthetho we-FCA awulandelwa ngokwanele ngabe-SAPS, ikakhulukazi ngenxa yokuthi amalunga abe-SAPS anolwazi oluncane kanye nokuqondisisa okuncane ngoMthetho. Inselele enkulu eboniwe ukusweleka koqeqesho ngomthetho we-FCA. Kwenziwe izincomo ngokuthi kungathuthukiswa kanjani ukusetshenziswa nokulandelwa komthetho we-FCA.