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BRIEFING TO THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON 16 MARCH 05

Briefing on Small Arms Proliferation Control Policy Imperatives and DOD Firearms Mechanism in South Africa, aligning with international agreements to prevent small arms misuse. Initiatives and mechanisms for compliance with Firearms Control Act.

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BRIEFING TO THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON 16 MARCH 05

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  1. BRIEFING TO THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEEON 16 MARCH 05 DOD SMALL ARMSMANAGEMENT Mr S.D. Dladla

  2. BACKGROUND • PC invited the ICRC and Amnesty International to give presentations on the issue of “Small Arms Proliferation:The Need for Control”. • DOD invited to provide input. • Clarification sought on PC’s expectation. • DOD to give a national position on the small arms proliferation and what has been done. • Further informed that DFA has been invited to attend session as the issue has an international dimension.

  3. DOD indicated to the PC Secretariat that the DOD not in a position to give national position on small arms management. • DOD can only talk about DOD controlled small arms. • SAPS mandate to manage small arms ito the Firearms Control Act. • DOD to prepare on its controlled small arms and come to Parliament.

  4. SCOPE • The report covers covers two aspects: • Policy Imperatives. • DOD Firearms Mechanism.

  5. POLICY IMPERATIVES • South Africa has committed itself to the international agenda to prevent the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the world. This commitment emanates from the deep understanding of the enormous problems that the misuse of small arms cause in the country, region and in the world at large. • South Africa’s policy position on the non-proliferation of small arms was influenced by the following factors. • Concern about the impact of small arms on the reconstruction and development of civil societies in RSA, region and beyond. • Concern over high rates of crime and violence.

  6. Policy position also reinforced by: • The UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons. • The Bamako Declaration on an African Common Position on the Illicit Proliferation, Circulation and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons. • The SADC Protocol on Firearms, Ammunition and other related Materials in SADC and the Protocol thereto.

  7. DOD PROMOTION OF RSA POLICY ON SMALL ARMS • To promote the South Africa’s policy on the non-proliferation of small arms, the DOD has engaged in the following activities: • Destruction of the DOD surplus and obsolete small arms (Operation Mouflon). • Assisted the Kingdom of Lesotho with the destruction of their own surplus and confiscated small arms (Operation Sardien). • Co-authored a book showcasing South Africa’s experience on small arms destruction • Instituted stringent firearms control systems.

  8. In order to further promote the South Africa’s policy on the non-proliferation of small arms in the region and the wider African continent, the DOD has engaged in the following initiatives: • Expressed its willingness to assist SADC states with the destruction of small arms as well as the management of stockpiles. • Partnered SADC states in efforts to raise donor funds for the destruction of surplus and obsolete small arms in the region. • Assist in strengthening border controls for the purposes of curbing the trafficking in small arms. • Partnered the Department of Foreign Affairs and the South African Police Service in its engagements on the United Program of Action, Bamako Declaration and the SADC Protocol on Small Arms.

  9. DOD FIREARMS CONTROL MECHANISM • This is practical mechanism that the DOD uses to control its firearms. This mechanism includes the following: • Firearms Control Centers • Issues DOD guidelines on management of firearm. • Liase with SAPS . • Plan and manage destruction of small arms in the DOD. • Inventory Control at Head Office • Identify and codify all firearms ito International Codification Standards and keep such record.

  10. Firearm Register • Computerised register reflecting all firearms kept in the DOD. • Register used to control firearms through out its lifecycle. • Inventory Control at User Level • All weapons verified twice a year. • Physical verification done per weapon per serial number. • Weapons issued to individuals done on application that should comply with the set down procedures. • Weapons on personal issue inspected once a year. •  Proper Firearms Warehousing • Bulk weapons stored in main holding depots, little stock kept at User level. • Warehouses constructed specifically to hold firearms. • Stringent control of entry

  11. Firearm Disposal Mechanism • Firearms that are obsolete, redundant or unservicdeable are destroyed through defragmentasing. • Stringent procedures followed in the process of planning and executing the destruction. • Verification and security enjoying high priority in these operation.

  12. END THANK YOU

  13. DOD INITIATIVE TO IMPLEMENT THE FIREARMS CONTROL ACT • The Firearms Control Act came into force in Sept 2004. • DOD enjoys some exemptions ito the Act. • DOD to comply with all other sections of the Act. • Legal analysis of the Act done and implications to the DOD pointed out. • Project Team in the process of being appointed to update the DOD firearms control system. • Project Team to work closely with the SAPS.

  14. DECISION REQUIRED • Endorsement of the Information Brief.

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