Durban - To the untrained eye, the silver revolver looks just like the real thing. But it is not - and is one of thousands of replicas that are being sold in “self-defence” and hobby stores across Durban.
The lookalike weapons, which do not require any form of licence to buy them, are being sold from as little as R800 for a 9mm replica to R3 000 for a hunting rifle with a scope.
The guns are powered by CO2 gas and shoot steel BB bullets, which according to one salesman “can pierce the skin”.
But anti-gun lobbyists fear that easy accessibility to the replica guns is leading to a spike in robberies and other serious crimes and accuse the police of turning a blind eye to their sale.
In the past week a woman was hijacked by two men in Phoenix who were later found to have used a replica gun, according to police.
It follows several incidents in recent months where police have arrested people for committing crimes with replica guns.
In a tragic incident last week in the US state of Cleveland, 12-year-old Tamir Rice was shot dead by police on a playground after they mistook the replica weapon he was wielding for the real thing - highlighting the dangers of replica guns.
Last year, President Jacob Zuma signed an amendment to the Firarms Control Act, which outlawed replicas of real weapons, in public places.
The law came into effect in January this year.
However, the DA’s spokeswoman on policing matters, MP Dianne Kohler Barnard, said the law only existed on paper, as police were not enforcing it.
“I can spend hours in Parliament passing legislation and if the authorities on the ground - and in this case the police - do not enforce those laws, then we are wasting our time,” she said last week.
“The law is very clear on this issue and that is that possessing an exact replica is illegal. Toy guns can be sold, but they have be in colours that do not look like the real thing, like bright pink or green.”
Kohler Barnard said she was aware that several shops based at China malls in Durban were openly flouting the law and she planned to write to the minister of police to ensure that the laws are enforced.
“If a person is in possession of a replica gun and they hold up a place the police are within their right to shoot that person. If a person points that firearm at someone that person has a right to shoot them,” she said. “In moments like that it is impossible to tell if that gun is real.”
Prem Balram of security firm Reaction Unit South Africa said robbers using replica guns was a constant threat faced by private security guards.
He said some guns recovered by his guards even had serial numbers on them that made them look authentic.
“Certain stores are making it easy for criminals to buy guns and also holsters over the counter,” he said.
“Security guards and police, when coming face to face with robbers, only have a few seconds to determine if the gun is real or not.”
Blue Security managing director, Henk van Bemmelen, agreed.
“The old plastic toy guns used to have a piece of red plastic in the barrel to show that they are just toys but this is now not always the case. Paintball guns of course can be easily differentiated due to the pellet cartridges.”
The owner of a self-defence store at the China Mall in Springfield Park, who did not want his name published, said the guns were very popular.
Referring to the high levels of crime in suburbs, he said: “If you live in South Africa, you know what goes on here and that is why people are buying these guns. We sell quite a few of these items. The BB guns and the paint ball guns are very popular. All types of people come here to buy these guns - from homeowners to security people.”
Bellair resident, Ishan Sahatu, who had gone to the store to have one of his air rifles repaired, said he bought an air gun for his wife who is on maternity leave.
“The gun fires paintball, skull crackers and pepper ball rounds. She will use it to ward off petty criminals who steal from the backyard. Often braai stands, table sets and anything of interest is stolen,” he said.
“If you’re not armed all you can do is shout from the window. You can fire 14 rounds of this without killing the person.”
Sahatu said it created peace of mind for those not proficient in hand-to-hand combat.
“The velocity and impact creates more stopping power,” he said.
“Prevention of a crime is better than the cure. Applying for a gun is a long process and lots of red tape and protocol. Here you don’t need a licence or any documents.”
The SAPS and police ministry were e-mailed questions about the alleged failure to enforce the law, but had not responded by the time of publication.
Daily News