Latest News: 12 April 2010
PLEASE SPREAD THIS LIKE WILD FIRE
There is a lot of confusion concerning the April 11th "deadline", license renewals, illegal firearms, and what not...
The Facts:
Fact 1: If you want to keep you firearm that has been issued under the old act (the green licenses), NOW would be a good time to renew your license (before April 11th). (It will be a bit of a squeeze, but it can still be done by then)
Fact 2: ALL existing firearm licenses, whether issued under the old act or the new, remain valid until the court case between the SA Hunters and the SAPS had been heard. (Next date is set for August 2010 sometime).
In other words: If you have not renewed your firearm license, your old license is still valid - you may legally keep possession of that firearm until further notice. A lot of people are under the impression that their old green licenses "expire" on April 11th and that they need to hand in their firearms - this is not true.
Fact 3: If you are in possession of a double-barreled shotgun that your great-grand father handed down to your grand father who han... (you get the idea) and now YOU sit with it - hand it in at the SAPS by April 11th. Amnesty - no prosecution. (And of course you will have to queue behind the scores of criminals who can't wait to give up their "tools of the trade"...)
In conclusion: If you want to renew your license - DO IT NOW, alternatively - SIT TIGHT until the case of the SA Hunters had been heard.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUÉ FROM THE SAPS
READ THIS: SA JAGTERS' URGENT INTERDICT AGAINST SAPS
1. Competency Application (SAP 517)
2. Firearm License Application (SAP 271)
3. Temporary Authorization to Possess a Firearm (SAP 518)
4. Application for Compensation (SAPS 520d)
Jan 11th, 2010
The
Minister has agreed to allow those firearm owners who missed the deadline of
license renewals "to apply afresh for a firearm license to possess such
firearm".
"Such
persons must comply with all the provisions of the Act applicable to new firearm
license applications".
"The
above applicants will not be required to hand in their firearms at the police
station concerned. The firearm licenses issued in terms of the repealed Arms and
Ammunition Act. 1969 are valid and legal due to an interim order issued by the
North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria which effectively allow these firearm owners
to possess their firearms legally."
"Where the applicant do not possess a competency certificate, she/he must apply for a competency certificate in accordance with the Act. Such applicant must undergo the prescribed training and practical test regarding the safe and efficient handling of a firearm as well as the prescribed test on the knowledge of the Act".
What you need to do if this is applicable to you?
Contact us ASAP to register for the required training (Yes... - I know you can shoot, but you need to do it anyway).
You need to complete the following two Unit Standards (Courses): 1. Knowledge of the FCA (US 117705), as well as 2. Handle & Use a Handgun (or whatever firearm type you need to relicense). (All of this can be done in ONE day... - kermgat)
You will learn a lot (and no it's not difficult) and will have another opportunity to shoot!
The cost for the training is R850-00 (all inclusive).
If you already applied to renew your licenses: Sit back, relax & have a cup of patience, clean your guns...
Have you signed up for the Newsletter? May be next time someone is not going to forward you all the juicy info...
ALL FIREARM LICENSES (OLD & NEW) ARE STILL VALID UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
IE: YOU NEED NOT TO HAND IN YOUR FIREARM TO THE SAPS - KEEP IT!
Read the SAPS Directive by clicking here
Continue reading...
DID YOU MISS THE DEADLINE? Sign up for our Newsletter to receive the latest news...
To keep your own firearm: The Options...
Before I continue... ALL EXISTING FIREARM LICENSES REMAIN VALID UNTIL JUNE 30th THIS YEAR. IE: You are not in possession of an unlicensed firearm and may continue to use it for whatever legal purposes you have done in the past, until June 30th. (Keep this in mind if you get stopped in roadblock... )
Should you consider handing in your firearm to the SAPS, please see the note towards the bottom of the page on COMPENSATION for firearms surrendered to the SAPS...
The option listed below is what's
available right now - We will send out an update as soon as new options come
available.
Option
1:
Complete
the training required for a new firearm license application, hand your firearm
over to a Firearm Dealer, they will then cancel your license (a transfer of
ownership will take place), you then go to the SAPS and apply for a new license
(not a renewal) for the same firearm. (This is not a renewal - it's a
NEW application)
The
down side: 1. The dealer will charge you "storage fees" for the
time your application is in process (Storage fees will cost about R750-R1000 for
the period).
The
up side: 1. You'll get some practice with your gun, 2. You'll get proper training from us!
Option
2:
Complete
the training required for a new firearm application, dispose of your current
firearm by selling it or disposing of it in some other legal way, purchase a new
& better firearm, then go to the SAPS and apply for a license for the new
firearm. We will help you with your motivation!
The
down side: Not much
The
up side: 1. You get a new gun!, 2. You'll get proper training from us!
Option
3: (Not really an option...)
Get
rid of your firearm by selling it or surrendering it to the SAPS. See
the note below.
The
down side: No firearm! (But then again... did the ANC not promise us that
they will have the non-existent crime under control soon?)
The
up side: NONE.
I
dialled 10-111 and I'm on hold - sure wish I had that gun I sold!!!
IMPORTANT
NOTE...
Surrendering
of Firearms to the SAPS:
Section
137 of the Firearm Control Act makes provision for the state to compensate
firearm owners who surrender their firearms to the SAPS. The Justice Alliance of
SA JASA) is currently busy with a case against the Minister of Safety &
Security and the SAPS (CFR), for failure to pay compensation. Currently they
(SAPS) are in breach of various sections of the Constitution.
JASA
and several individuals are also looking at laying a variety of charges
(including Theft by False Pretenses, Fraud, and Intimidation), against various
members of the SAPS relating to the above issue.
For more info
and to donate funds to support this case, visit
JASA's
website (www.JASA.za.net)
To purchase a firearm from a person who has not applied for renewal...
Complete
the training required for a new firearm license application, the existing owner
hand the firearm over to a Firearm Dealer, they will then cancel the previous
owner's license (a transfer of
ownership will take place), you then apply for the firearm license at the SAPS
as if you bought it from the Firearm Dealer.
The
down side: 1. The dealer will charge you "storage fees" or a
"handling fee" for the transaction (Typically R750 - R1000 per firearm
for the period).
The
up side: 1. New firearm! and, 2. You'll get proper training from us!
Option
2:
Complete the training required for a new firearm license application, you then apply at the SAPS for the license for the specific firearm. Then the existing owner hand the firearm over to the SAPS for safekeeping (I know this is a bit of an oxymoron.. SAPS - safekeeping..?) while your firearm license application is in process. (The SAPS will require an 86-number that you will receive when you hand in your application for the license).
The
down side: The SAPS is of the opinion that should the license be refused,
you then forfeit the firearm to the state...
The
up side: 1. You get a new gun!, 2. You'll get proper training from us!
Option
3:
Complete the training required for a new firearm license application, you then apply at the SAPS for the license for the specific firearm. Then the existing owner applies at the SAPS for a "Permit" (Authorization to Temporary Possess a Firearm - SAP 518) while your firearm license application is in process. This permit will be valid for a period of 12 months, in which time the SAPS should finalise your application. The firearm remains in the possession of the EXISTING OWNER. (The SAPS will require an 86-number that you will receive when you hand in your application for the license).
The
down side: 1) The "Permit" will cost you
(or the existing owner) R140-00 at the SAPS. 2) The SAPS is of the opinion that should the license be refused,
you then forfeit the firearm to the state...
The
up side: 1. You get a new gun!, 2. You'll get proper training from us!
The information below is what you were SUPPOSE to do...
For the renewal of an existing firearm license, the minimum requirement is that you pass a theoretical test on the Firearms Control Act (Act 60 of 2000), set to SAQA U/S 117705 (Demonstrate Knowledge of the Firearms Control Act (Act 60 of 2000)) You require ONLY 1 TEST irrespective the number/types of firearms that you want to renew.
You are suppose to renew your license based on your birthday month, you may apply earlier, but not later. After the initial re-licensing process, you'll have to renew your license based on what period the license was issued for, e.g. a handgun license for self defense is valid for 5 years, while a hunting rifle license is valid for 10 years. But please note that your personal Competency Certificate is only valid for 5 years - that your have to re-apply for probably before your license has expired.
Please note that all the initial deadlines of 31 December have been move on to the end of March the following year.
Date of birth |
Renewal period |
|
1 January to 31 March |
1 January 2005 to 31 March 2006 |
|
1 April to 30 June |
1 January 2006 to 31 March 2007 |
|
1 July to 30 September |
1 January 2007 to 31 March 2008 |
|
1 October to 31 December |
1 January 2008 to 31 March 2009 |
MISSED THE DEADLINE?
Should it happen that you've missed your deadline, you may still apply following the process as normal, but at the SAPS the will require a written statement as to why you've missed the deadline.
This Unit Standard covers the sections of the new firearm act relating to private and general firearm ownership. Now before you "I'm not a lawyer" - the complete manual is a little over 20 pages and caters for the "broader population"...
In short how it works: You come to us, we supply you with the manual containing the relevant parts of the act, you take the manual home, work through it, complete an open book exam at home, bring it back to us and then complete a closed book exam under supervision at our training center. (Do I need to mention that you have to pass both the tests?) We then issue you with a training certificate which you take to the SAPS and they take the process further.
1. Your training certificate issued by an accredited training provider.
2. ID Book
3. Existing firearm licenses (if you still have them)
4. Four (4) colour passport photos
5. A motivation for each firearm license that you want to renew. (See the form at the bottom of the page for help with this)
6. Name & telephone numbers of three (3) people that can provide character references for you.
The total cost for the renewal of a single firearm license is R530-00 (as on 01 Jan 2008), plus R70 for each additional firearm. Cost breakdown: Training R350, Photo's R40 (available at our Training Centre), (at the SAPS) Competency Certificate application R70 (one application per person), License Renewal R70 / firearm.
You can also view this process in a table, comparing it to a new application by clicking HERE. (Good idea to save/print a copy of this document, as it contains our address, contact details and a map to us.)