The South African Police Service (SAPS) has conducted 3 728 compliance inspections at business premises — including gun dealerships and security companies — as part of enforcement operations under the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000.

The inspections are aimed at ensuring that firearms and ammunition are safely stored, properly authorised and fully accounted for. In terms of the Act, all firearm owners must possess a valid licence and competency certificate to lawfully own firearms for personal or business purposes.

During operations led by the National Tracking and Tracing Task Team under Operation Buyisa, a 55-year-old gun dealer from Middelburg, Mpumalanga, was arrested for non-compliance. Police seized 537 licensed firearms and ammunition during the operation.

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According to police, intelligence initially pointed to a security company in Middelburg that was allegedly operating with expired firearm licences.

Further investigation led officers to a plot on the outskirts of eMalahleni, where the gun dealer reportedly stored the company’s firearms in an unlicensed facility due to insufficient storage capacity at its registered premises.

Police reiterated that, in terms of Section 120(1) of the Firearms Control Act, it is an offence to:

* Fail to comply with any provision of the Act;
* Contravene conditions attached to a licence, permit or authorisation; or
* Disregard any lawful notice or requirement issued under the Act.

“Regular firearm compliance inspections at business premises enforce accountability and ensure records of licensed firearms and ammunition are kept accurately,” a statement by the police read.