SA Hunters Court Applications

SA Hunters’ Court Application affects all legal Firearm Owners

The South African Hunters and Game Conservation Association’s (SA Hunters) court application against the Minister of Police about the renewal of firearm licences will be heard in the North Gauteng High Court on 25 and 26 April.

SA Hunters’ court application deals with the constitutionality of the actions by the SAPS and the Central Firearm Registry (CFR) regarding the renewal of firearm licences. The Association’s legal action followed on SAPS’ directive to police stations in February 2016, instructing firearm owners whose firearm licences had expired, to hand in their firearms at their nearest police station for destruction.

In terms of Section 24 of the Firearms Control Act (Act 60 of 2000 as amended) firearm owners must renew firearm licences that had been issued since 2006. Such a renewal application must be submitted at least 90 days before the licence expires. However, the Act does not allow SAPS to make decisions regarding the surrendering and destruction of firearms because of late licence renewal applications.

It is estimated that 190 000 firearm licences had expired since 2011 and for which no renewal applications have been submitted. Most of these firearms are handguns that were acquired for self-defence purposes for which a licence is only valid for five years.

SA Jagters se Hofaansoek raak alle Vuurwapeneienaars

Die Suid-Afrikaanse Jagters- en Wildbewaringsvereniging (SA Jagters) se hofaansoek teen die Minister van Polisie oor die hernuwing van vuurwapenlisensies word op 25 en 26 April in die Noord-Gautengse Hooggeregshof aangehoor.

In beginsel, handel SA Jagters se hofaansoek oor die grondwetlikheid van die Polisie en die Sentrale Vuurwapenregister (SVR) se standpunt oor die hernuwing van vuurwapenlisensies. Dit volg nadat die SAPD sedert Februarie 2016 vuurwapeneienaars wie se lisensies reeds verval het, opdrag gee om hulle vuurwapens by die naaste polisiestasie in te handig vir vernietiging.

Artikel 24 van die Wet op die Beheer van Vuurwapens, Wet 60 van 2000 soos gewysig, bepaal dat vuurwapeneienaars alle vuurwapenlisensies wat sedert 2006 uitgereik is, moet hernu. 'n Hernuwingsaansoek moet minstens 90 dae voordat die lisensie verval, ingedien word. Die Wet maak egter nie spesifiek voorsiening vir die Polisie om 'n besluit te mag neem oor die indiening en vernietiging van vuurwapens nie.

Sedert 2011, het ongeveer 175 000 vuurwapenlisensies reeds verval waarvoor hernuwingsaansoeke nie ingedien is nie. Die meeste van hierdie wapens is handwapens wat vir selfverdediging aangeskaf word en waarvoor die lisensies slegs vir vyf jaar geldig is.