This submission is made on behalf of the 59^th Session of Synod of the Diocese of Cape Town and endorsed by its President, the Archbishop of Cape Town, The Most Revd. Winston Hugh Njongonkulu Ndungane. The Diocesan Synod represents the clergy and people of the Anglican community in the Western and Northern Cape.

As Christians we applaud the arrival of the proposed legislation, believing that the existing Arms and Ammunition Act is dangerously outmoded and has no relevance to the current needs of our society. We applaud the fact that the legislation broadly supports the intrinsic value we put on every human life and upholds a growing human rights culture in which every person has the right to be free from all forms of violence.

Many people in our communities live in daily fear of gun violence and are unable to walk from their homes in peace. Many of our clergy experience the strain of performing the funerals of gun shot victims, often young of age, and ministering to their traumatised relatives. We are appalled by the ever-growing numbers of fatalities and injuries from guns and horrified at how our growing gun culture can so easily turn a clash of business interests into gun attacks on the streets, as in the current transport crisis. The statistic of a loss of human life to gun violence of over two hundred South Africans per week is hard to comprehend. Such a sacrifice of life is untenable and such a living threat has untold impact on individual lives, on community life and the life of our nation.

To those who claim that guns make you safe we are persuaded that the contrary is true. Far from creating personal safety the carrying of a gun gives one a 70% greater chance of being injured or killed by a gun. The mere number of guns in our communities put many of our lives at risk.

We therefore support the proposed competency testing, which, when combined with the regular renewal of licenses, will both protect our women and children and go a long way towards reducing the number of weapons in our communities.

We believe many of the points raised in previous submissions from the Diocesan Council have been addressed in the revised legislation and therefore will not comment in detail on the text. We still however hold that the successful implementation of the proposed legislation depends to a large extent on the new centralised database and registering procedure. We are aware that the present system is wholly inadequate. We urge the government to direct all available resources into the creation of a centralised system that will efficiently track all firearms in South Africa from manufacture to sale.

Finally we would like to thank the Portfolio Committee in considering our submission and once again add our full support to the admirable intentions of the legislation. We look forward to its adoption and the all-important process of implementation. The legislation represents a crucial step towards building a South Africa that is free from the fear of gun violence.

May we make mention of some specific points:

1. With the proposed limitation on the number of firearms which may be legally owned we encourage the government to make some provisions for the collection and destruction of surplus weapons. Some process of compensation may be required.
2. Section 10. (3) (a) We support raising the age of eligibility to 18. However we think there is good argument to raise this to 25. Both the statistics of gun violence amongst youth and the voice of our own young people persuade us that to be a fire arm owner demands a certain level of maturity. Certainly students in tertiary education should not have to consider gun carrying as an option.
3. Section 10 (4). We are concerned that many accused persons particularly perpetrators of domestic violence may have suspended sentences or sentences less than six months. This clause may be omitted.
4. Section 10(4)(d). We would suggest that offenders whose sentences have elapsed 5 years prior to their application should have to undergo a more stringent competency and testing procedures than those under taken by non offenders.
5. Section 10(3) (m) We would suggest including those who have been subject to a temporary protection order.
6. Schedule 2 Assault and robbery should be added to the list of offenses giving rise to unfitness.
7. Section 15(3) We believe that the Registrar needs some criteria or support mechanism here in establishing a real need for self-defence. As we have discovered currently many South Africans would misguidedly say they need a weapon for self-defence. Guidelines must be given as to what constitutes a reasonable need.
8. Section107(1) The clause as is leaves the declaration of unfitness up to the discretion of the Registrar. We suggest changing the word ‘may’ to ‘must’.
9. Schedule 1 (11) (3) This needs clarifying. We would be against any suggestion that existing licence holders be exempt from competency testing, as we know of many gun owners who have had no training and display no skill in the use or storage of firearms.
10. Schedule 1. We feel the successful implementation of the proposed legislation depends to a large extent on the new centralised database and registering procedure. We are aware that the present system is wholly inadequate. We urge the government to direct all available resources into the creation of a centralised system that will efficiently track all firearms in South Africa from manufacture to sale.

Finally we would like to thank the Portfolio Committee in considering our submission and once again add our full support to the admirable intentions of the legislation. We pray for its refinement and look forward to its adoption and the all-important process of implementation. The legislation represents a crucial step towards building a South Africa that is free from the fear of gun violence.

The Cathedral has an awesome and proud history in the space that it has provided for people of faith to meet together at times of great pain and times of great hope. All of us can remember moments of profound

…. My images are of the service before the Chris hani march and the simple blessing on the commissioners at the start of the TRC process.

It has provided a sanctuary for all, a place of courage and inspiration and has become truly a sacred site for Hindus, Jews, Muslims, as well as our own Christian community. It stands as a model of the universal acceptance of human kind in Jesus Christ.

Government and the City structures, often the Mayors office, often request an intereligious event to be held in the Cathedral to mark a national day, or anniversary or in times of particular crisis. We recognise that this has sometimes been a last minute affair and has lacked a certain integrity in preparation.

The Interfaith initiative has recently identified a task group which includes the Canon Precenter to proactively plan and consciously create these events which fall into three categories.

1. Acts of Remembrance
2. Acts of Celebration
3. Acts of Solidarity

I repeat that it is not correct to refer to these acts of witness as interfaith worship as no one is asked to compromise the integrity of their own faith tradition.

We should be proud and thankful that we have such a heroic landmark in our Diocese and commend its continued use as a place where God meets all people at the depths of their need.

Thus I move the amendment.