The Foundation for Rights of Expression and Equality (Free SA) today denounced the South African government’s exclusion of firearms stakeholders from ongoing legislative discussions surrounding the Draft Firearms Control Amendment Bill. In a country already burdened by rampant crime, policy-making behind closed doors will only deepen mistrust and further alienate the very communities whose safety the government purports to protect.
South Africa’s Constitution enshrines participatory democracy, yet the current process smacks of autocracy. Despite repeated calls for meaningful engagement, government has continued to push forward legislative changes that will drastically impact lawful firearm owners, without consulting them.
“The draft legislation is not just about gun control, it’s about power and accountability,” said Reuben Coetzer, spokesperson for Free SA. “When government makes laws in a vacuum, they are not just ignoring key stakeholders, they are undermining democracy itself. No law affecting the rights and freedoms of citizens should be passed without their input.”
The exclusion of stakeholders such as gun owners, sports shooting associations, security industry representatives, and civil rights organisations from the legislative process is not only unconstitutional but deeply irresponsible. The government’s opaque approach threatens to criminalise law-abiding citizens while doing little to address the real crisis: illegal firearms and rising violent crime.
Free SA is particularly concerned that the Draft Firearms Control Amendment Bill:
- Fails to consult those most affected, including legal gun owners, instructors, and women who use firearms for protection.
- Disregards transparent legislative process, opting instead for selective consultation that echoes policy-making by decree.
Free SA calls on the Minister of Police and the Portfolio Committee on Police to:
- Halt the legislative process immediately until broad, inclusive, and public consultations are held;
- Ensure that civil society, legal firearm owners, and private security stakeholders are formally included in all future deliberations;
- Table a full impact assessment report outlining the consequences of the proposed amendments.
“We will not stand by as government silences those who are most at risk,” Coetzer continued. “Women, farmers, small business owners, and security personnel have a right to defend themselves. This is not a privilege granted by the state, it is a fundamental human right.”
Free SA encourages South Africans to make their voices heard by signing its petition and engaging with Parliament through formal channels.
Public participation is not a box to tick, it is the lifeblood of any functioning democracy. The state cannot claim to protect public safety while simultaneously ignoring the public’s voice. Free SA will continue to defend the rights of all South Africans to participate in shaping the laws that govern them.