President Jacob Zuma says his government will start discussions on how to control the number of guns in the country.

Zuma was talking about his presidential hotline when he changed the subject to crime saying the fact so many people have access to firearms is one of the reasons there is so much violent crime.

"This country is too armed with guns, too many guns floating around and too many murders as a result of guns. We must take firm action on the guns," says Zuma .

He referred to Sunday's shooting of police officer Charl Scheepers by armed robbers saying he had warned them he would shoot.

"After the third time the criminals shot and killed a very good officer. Should we say because we all have rights, that the police die with their rights and the criminals leave with their rights," says Zuma.