Arendse to lead SAFA gun lobby

Johannesburg - The SA Football Association (SAFA) has appointed advocate Norman Arendse to lead a campaign for a law to remove all illegal guns from the streets, its president Danny Jordaan said in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

"It is about unlicensed, stolen, and illegal firearms. It is not about legal firearms. We don't want to confuse our issue," Jordaan told a packed media room at the soccer body's headquarters.

"It is a complex matter. It deals with the law and the Constitution and we felt, who better than Norman Arendse to lead the charge."

Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa was shot dead in Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni, while visiting his singer girlfriend Kelly Khumalo last Sunday. Two men entered the house demanding cellphones, shot him, and fled.

Jordaan said more details about the law would be released once Arendse had spoken to the association's national executive committee, as well as prominent members of the public.

"He will give us a report on who he has engaged with. We are happy that we have received many endorsements from a number of organisations," Jordaan said.

Arendse, SAFA's senior legal counsel, said he was honoured to have been tasked with discussing the law with government.

"The president sent an e-mail which started this campaign. I have been tasked with taking this conversation further," Arendse said.

"The campaign will be given further impetus in the coming days. We are unable today to announce any plans.

"There will be a march to Parliament to urge our government to make an effective response to the demands made at the march."

Also in attendance was human rights lawyer George Bizos, who confirmed his backing of the law.

"It usually takes a tragedy for a country to sit back and say something has to be done as a matter of urgency," Bizos said.

"It is a matter that is of concern to every citizen, every player, and every fan.

"I would suggest that the presidency gives very serious attention to the question of whether we can promise amnesty to people who go to a specified place to hand over their guns."