The renewal period for firearms with regard to the new Firearms Control Act (Act 60 of 2000) ended on March 31 this year, with gun owners who failed to renew having until June 30 to either try and sell their weapons or hand them in at their nearest police station.

The South African Police Service did, however, last week issue a statement saying that an investigation was opened for the late application of firearms and that the matter had been referred to the courts.

“The courts will decide on a fine for late application. Firearm owners who applied before the cut-off date or before June 30 this year (late receipt) will receive a receipt of payment, as well as a notice of acknowledgement to proof that they did apply for renewal,” reads the statement. It goes on to say that all firearm owners in the province must note that if they do not wish to renew their firearm licenses, or where they failed to file their renewal applications within the set renewal periods, have an opportunity until June 30 to opt for other options such as selling of their firearms, applying to the SAPS to deactivate the firearm or to voluntarily hand the firearm over to the SAPS for destruction.

In the statement, gun owners are warned that after June 30, no new applications or renewals will be accepted.

“This means that people will be illegally in possession of a firearm as from July 1,” that statement reads.

The police say people wanting to sell or donate their firearms now have two options which they can follow.

“In a case where a firearm owner sells or donates the firearm, or in the case where a person inherited a firearm and the application is still in process before July 1, the current owner must hand in the firearm at the nearest police station for safe keeping. As soon as the license is approved, the new owner can collect the firearm at the police station. Should the application be disapproved, the applicant has 90 days in which to appeal. If the appeal is not successful, the current owner must hand in the firearm as it is forfeited to the state,” reads the statement.

The second option entails temporary authority to keep a firearm.

“If the legal owner of a firearm sells or donates the firearm before June 30, the new application must be registered on the firearm system before June 30. Only the current owner can apply for temporary authority to store the firearm in a proper safe until the application of the new owner has been approved. However, the owner is not allowed to use or transport the firearm while in his possession,” says the statement.

With regard to the second option, people applying for a temporary authority do not have to be in possession of a training or competency certificate. Firearm owners who want to apply for this authority must have available copies of their ID, firearm license, a full motivation on why the firearm must be kept in their possession as well as an amount of R140 per firearm. The application will be forwarded to the provincial office, which is the only one who can approve or disapprove.

“Should the application be disapproved, the applicant has 90 days in which to appeal. If the appeal is not successful, the police will notify the current owner to hand in the firearm as it is for-feited to the state,” the statement concludes.

All information on the renewal of firearms is available at the Designated Firearms Offices at all police stations.

Further information is also available from the National Firearms Call Centre at (012) 353 6111, Fax (012) 353 6034 or e-mail [email protected]