Issue of firearm licences to be streamlined by police
The unit strives to process and finalise applications for firearm licences within 90 working days
Following reports and allegations of corruption and maladministration in the Central Firearm Registry (CFR) of the South African Police Service (SAPS), the National Commissioner, General Riah Phiyega, has appointed a leader at the level of a Major General with vast operational experience to revamp the CFR.
The new team, led by Major General Maropeng Mamotheti, has a new turnaround strategy in place, which sets new standards in the way firearm licences are issued, thus improving efficiency and preventing any opportunity for corruption.
In the recent past, the unit found itself under the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. It was out of this and the genuine desire on the part of the SAPS to provide an efficient and a user friendly service to the public that the strategy was mooted and finally implemented.
After many engagements between the police and the affected stakeholders, the unit has a new action plan which, within a period of three months, has shown improvements in the processing of firearm licences. The unit handles about 12 000 applications a month and strives to process and finalise applications for firearm licences within 90 working days.
“It must, however, be stated that even as we strive to achieve this 90 working days target, we are still investigating whether it is realistically achievable or not, but we are striving to meet it,” Phiyega said.
Information on how to apply for firearm licences will now be easily obtainable from the police’s website. A checklist of required documents will be listed in order to save time for applicants and officers involved.
To prevent any opportunity for corruption, the police are screening and vetting personnel performing functions in the unit. Furthermore, these personnel will be rotated. There is now clear segregation of functions, limited access on certain user functions and the encryption and password control measures.
During its many visits to the provinces the team has noted the challenges experienced and has taken steps to address them. These steps include the training of extra designated firearm officers and the support staff and to attend to the shortage of physical resources. These systems and processes will certainly close the corruption tap from leaking.
