Minimum 5 years for weapons offenses

The cabinet has studied three bills relating to gangs and youth, which will be discussed in parliament next week.

These include: i. the Anti-Gang Bill; ii. the Child Justice (Amendment) Bill; and iii. the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill.

The new and amended laws are aimed at tackling the recent surge in criminal activity among young people.

Much attention is being paid to the likely consequences of higher minimum sentences, although the government has acknowledged that removing the discretionary powers that magistrates and judges (who deal with criminal cases) currently have may not be constitutional.

Although the minimum prison sentence for firearm violence appears to be two years, the cabinet agreed to a minimum sentence of five years for firearm violence. Furthermore, it left the power to magistrates and judges to determine the length of the prison sentence.

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