Do you want to renew or check your SAPS firearm status but do not know how? You must have known that applying for a firearm license in South Africa involves a specific process and requirements set by the South African Police Service (SAPS). Get to know the process involved in tracking firearm license applications in South Africa, whether you are a fresh applicant or already have one and need to renew it.
The Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000 in South Africa regulates the ownership of guns by civilians. Thus, specific terms and conditions must be met to effect that. This article looks at the process of checking the SAPS firearm status, competency check, and gun license tracking.
In South Africa, you can legally obtain a firearm under certain conditions and by following a specific process regulated by the South African Police Service (SAPS). The process for obtaining a gun can be lengthy and involves several steps:
You may be required to undergo firearm proficiency training from an accredited institution. After completing training, the training provider must provide you with the training certificate, which will form the basis of your application.
After training, you will need to apply for a competency certificate. Once you pass the competency check, you can include the certification of competence as part of your application to the South African Police Service (SAPS) for a firearm license. Before you apply, you must meet these criteria:
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Submit your application to your local SAPS Designated Firearm Officer (DFO). This officer can provide guidance and ensure your application is complete.
If your application is approved, you will receive a firearm license. You can then purchase the approved firearm and register it in your name.
Here are the steps to check gun licence status and competency application on the SAPS website.
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To track the status of your firearm license application with the South African Police Service (SAPS), you will typically need to follow up directly with your local SAPS Designated Firearm Officer (DFO) or the specific SAPS office where you submitted your application.
In South Africa, the duration of a firearm license varies between two and ten years, depending on the license type and the specific circumstances. The following are some common types of gun licenses and their typical durations:
A self-defence firearm license, often used for personal protection, typically lasts five years. After this period, you must apply for a renewal if you wish to continue owning the gun.
For sport shooting purposes, the firearm license may be issued for a specific calibre and type of gun and is also typically valid for five years.
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A hunting firearm license, which allows guns for hunting activities, often follows the same five-year duration and renewal process.
Firearm licenses issued to individuals for professional purposes, such as security personnel, may vary in duration, but they also often have a validity period of five years.
In February 2016, an order was issued that once a white license card had been issued for a firearm, the old green license was no longer valid. Thus, if the gun owner had an old green license and renewed it to white, which later expires for whatever reason, then the owner is in illegal possession of such a gun.
Above is everything you need to know about the SAPS firearm status check. Firearm owners are responsible for ensuring that they renew their licenses on time. Failure to do so can make the firearm illegal, and the owner could face legal consequences.
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DISCLAIMER: This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional advice or help and should not be relied on to make decisions. Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is strictly at your own risk and responsibility!
Briefly.co.za published an article on how to write a firearm license motivation letter in South Africa. Unlike many African countries, owning guns in South Africa is legal with a convincing firearm license motivation letter. Any South African citizen or permanent resident above 21 can own a firearm only after obtaining a license from the regulating authorities.
Source: Briefly News
Bennett Yates (Lifestyle writer) Bennett Yates is a content creator with over five years of working experience in journalism and copywriting. He graduated from the University of Nairobi (2017) with a Bachelor's in Information Technology. In 2023, Bennett finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. He started working for Briefly in 2019. You can reach him via email at bennetyates@gmail.com.
