Who and what is AfriForum?

AfriForum is an Afrikaans civil rights organisation that protects the rights of minority groups at national as well as provincial level, and anyone who can identify with AfriForum’s principles and objectives may join the organisation. AfriForum’s community plan focuses on mobilising communities to thus take control of their own streets and neighbourhoods again. AfriForum ensures that your constitutional and civil rights are recognised and protected at national level.

Wie en wat is AfriForum?

AfriForum is ’n Afrikaanse burgerregteorganisasie wat die regte van minderheidsgroepe op sowel nasionale as provinsiale vlak beskerm, en enigiemand wat met AfriForum se beginsels en doelstellings kan identifiseer, mag by die organisasie aansluit. AfriForum se gemeenskapsplan fokus daarop om gemeenskappe te mobiliseer om só weer beheer terug te neem oor hul eie strate en woonbuurtes. AfriForum verseker dat jou grondwetlike én burgerregte op nasionale vlak erken en beskerm word.

Media statements | Safety Media statements

Firearms: AfriForum seeks transparency after allegations of secret discussions with NEDLAC

ByAfriForum 25/08/202525/08/2025

Soundbite: Jacques Broodryk (English)

Soundbite: Jacques Broodryk (Afrikaans)

Discussions regarding possible amendments to the Firearms Control Act (60 of 2000) at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) are unlawful and outside the council’s mandate, according to AfriForum. The organisation is calling for transparency about the decisions made and the process followed. This follows allegations of secret discussions to effect amendments to the act.

According to AfriForum, these types of discussions should include representatives from the firearms industry, sports shooting bodies, private security, and legal firearm owners. The organisation believes that a lack of transparency undermines public trust and that it taints the process of proposing amendments in the future.

“Firearm regulation is a matter of public safety and constitutional rights. It has nothing to do with labour policy,” says Jacques Broodryk, AfriForum’s Chief Spokesperson on Community Safety. “It appears that the government is determined to disarm law-abiding firearm owners while the real problem of illegal firearms is being brushed aside. The government’s own Wits report indicated that legal firearm owners are not the problem, but it appears that these facts are also being ignored for the sake of their agenda.”

The proposed amendments, which were reportedly discussed during these talks, include reducing the number of firearms in private ownership, stricter licensing requirements, heavier restrictions on private security, as well as new storage and justification rules.

AfriForum warns that the government’s exclusion of interest groups from these discussions undermines public trust. “We will fight against any unreasonable amendments to firearms legislation and every attempt to disarm law-abiding citizens,” adds Broodryk. “If the government believes in democracy, these secret discussions and negotiations must be stopped until stakeholders are involved.”