NHSA Newsletter
VOL. 15 (16) - 30-07-2019
PLEASE RENEW FIREARM LICENCES ON TIME
Dear Member,
It still happens that members forget to renew firearm licences in time – it is human to forget.
BUT the Constitutional Court’s ruling of 7 June 2018, namely that sections 24 and 28 are constitutionally correct and that firearm licences have to be renewed in time, leaves no margin for error to forget to renew.
PLEASE GO CHECK EXPIRY DATES OF YOUR FIREARM LICENCES NOW
Please make sure you submit the renewal application for your firearm licence at least 90 days before the expiry date of the licence.
In addition, it has been brought to our attention that some DFOs do not want to accept submission for renewal of firearm licences well before the 90 days limit for applications to be handed in.
One such incident was reported at the Emalahleni (former Witbank) police station. Here the DFO indicated that renewal applications should be handed in within 90 days before expiry (thus not 90 days before expiry).
At the same station the DFO at Emalahleni allegedly also indicated that applications submitted in Afrikaans could not be accepted (this is obviously not true as the renewal application form (SAPS 518(a)) is printed in English and in Afrikaans).
Section 24(1) of the FCA reads as follows on renewal of licences:
In English: The holder of a licence issued in terms of this Chapter who wishes to renew the licence must at least 90 days before the date of expiry of the licence apply to the Registrar for its renewal.
In Afrikaans: Die houer van 'n lisensie uitgereik ingevolge hierdie Hoofstuk wat verlang om die lisensie te hernu moet minstens 90 dae voor die verstrykingsdatum van die lisensie by die Registrateur aansoek doen om die hernuwing daarvan.
Members must please ascertain that they submit renewal applications at least 90 days before the expiry date of the firearm's licence. Your DFO has to accept your renewal application even if it is submitted 120 days before licence expiry (the FCA states …at least 90 days before expiry... it does not state 90 days before expiry).
Please go read Newsletter Vol. 15(08) of 12-03-2019 again so as to remind you of all the issues surrounding renewal of firearm licences.
Remember to also apply for renewal of relevant competencies at the same time – see Newsletters Vol. 15(11) & Vol. 15(12) of 26-06-2019 for the detail.
Ascertain your own safety at all times, and be aware of what is happening around you !!
Kind Regards
Natshoot Office
This Newsletter also sent to all members via Email on 30-07-2019