The ownership of firearms in South Africa is regulated by the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000.
In terms if this legislation, no person may possess a firearm without it being licenced.
To apply for a firearm licence, the applicant must first obtain a competency certificate, where after the firearm application is submitted at your nearest police station. The competency certificate is a new aspect of firearm licensing in South Africa. This training must be completed at an accredited training provider. Details of accredited training providers are available at police stations.
Competency certificates are only issued to South African citizens or permanent residence permit holders who ore 21 years of age or older. These certificates should be issued within 30 days after application. Applicants must be mentally stable and undergo a thorough background check. The basic training course referred to above will render the applicant capable to use a firearm, which is a prerequisite for obtaining a licence.
The relevant form that needs to be completed can be obtained at your nearest police station and is called the SAPS 517. This form is submitted to the designated firearms Officer at the police station and must be accompanied by the following: your identity document, the certificate of firearm competency obtained from the accredited training provider and two sets of fingerprints.
Once the applicant’s competency certificate has been obtained, the firearm licence application commences. Applications are firearm-specific, which means that the type of firearm competency that has been obtained must be distinguished. Different licences are issued for a handgun, rifle, shotgun and hand carbine.
These applications require the SAP 271 application form, two colour photographs, a certified copy of your identity document or passport, a certified copy of your competency certificate, a certified copy of your permanent residence permit if you are not a South African citizen, a proper motivation explaining why you need the firearm as well as the prescribed fees.
After the forms have been submitted, the approval procedure commences.
Once a firearm licence has been issued, it remains valid for a period of five years where it was issued for purposes of business and self-defence and ten years where the licence was issued for hunting or sport-related shooting.
The number of firearms that one person may own at one time is limited as follows:
Where firearms are obtained for self-defence, one handgun or shotgun, which may not be semi-automatic, may be owned per person. Hunters and sports shooters may own up to four firearms, subject to the above limit. Dedicated hunters and sport shooters are not subject to these limits if they can prove that they are dedicated members of hunting and/or sports organisations and that there is a need for additional firearms. No limit applies to people who use firearms for business purposes like firearm instructors, game hunters or security company owners.
Those who own firearms must operate their firearms responsible. Domestic violence, alcohol and drug abuse and negligent behaviour with regards to the firearm will have punishable consequences.
You may only own 200 rounds of ammunition for each firearm and can your ammunition must be suitable for that particular firearm (this does not apply to dedicated hunters or sports shooters). No other person may be left in possession of your firearm unless authorised to do so by the South African Police Service. Licence holders must renew their new licences and corresponding competency certificates 90 days prior to the expiry date thereof.
