NHSA Newsletter

VOL. 12 (13) - 01-03-2016

FIRST ROUND RENEWAL OF WHITE CARD LICENCES

This is a repeat of our Newsletters Vol. 11(02) dated 13-01-2015 and of Vol. 11 (24) dated 18-12-2015

 A number of our members’ firearm licences, which were renewed in the transition period from the 1969 to the 2000 Firearms Control Act (60 of 2000), will have to be renewed this year. 

The transition period refers to the time when you had to apply to renew your old green licences to the white card licences issued under the so-called new Act (remember all the long queues and all the frustrations and long-long wait for the issuing of licences ??). 

This process of renewal of licences will for the next four years be in operation again, as Section 15 and Section 16 licences renewed in the transition period are only valid for 10 years.  Many self-protection licences, valid for 5 years, have already expired.

Yes it is already 10 years since the first implementation of the Firearms Control Act (Act 60 of 2000).

Remember that you have to submit your renewal application(s) 90 days before the expiry date of your white card licences.  DO NOT get caught out with licences which have expired please !  Please do not get yourself into a position where you are forced to hand in your firearm because you are in effect illegally in possession of it.

Your existing licence remains valid until SAPS renews your licence if you hand in the application before the 90 days time limit – no matter how long that might take SAPS to finalise your application (the renewed licence(s) will also be valid for a period of 10 years).

Please ascertain that you make a copy of the receipt for the payment(s) you will have to make for renewal(s), and that you at all times carry this copy of the receipt with your expired licence as proof that you have applied for renewal. 

Otherwise it can be taken that you are illegally in possession of a firearm as the licence has expired (that is especially true for instances where you might be stopped in a road block of some sorts and you are asked if you have firearms in your possession)

You can be certain that the following documents will have to accompany your renewal application(s):

• Correctly completed SAPS 518(a) form (download from Firearms Licensing Page on the NSA website);
• Copy of your ID;
• Copy of proof of residence;
• Copies of all relevant training certificates;
• Copy of your competency certificate(s);
• Proof of paid-up membership of NHSA (download from your personal NHSA webpage) (and of other accredited associations);
• Copy of NHSA dedicated status certificate(s)
• Copy of NHSA confirmation of current validity of dedicated status (download from your personal NSA webpage);
• Proof of membership of other sport shooting or hunting associations or clubs;
• Motivation explaining purpose and use of firearm, which includes undisputable proof of use of firearm for purposes it was originally motivated for (don’t fold here – attach copies of receipts for hunting trips, of permissions to hunt and transport venison, letters from game ranchers saying that you hunted with them, photo’s of hunting trips with dates, shooting range registers, score cards, photo’s of you on the shooting range, etc.) (download your NHSA Activities & Scores Report from your Personal NHSA webpage and attach);
• NHSA endorsement of your application and motivation.

PLEASE DO NOT FIND YOURSELF AT FAULT WITH THIS BY LAW REQUIRED PROCESS

GO AND LOOK WHAT THE EXPIRY DATES OF ALL YOUR LICENCES ARE RIGHT NOW !!

RE-ISSUE OF NHSA Newsletter

VOL. 11 (24) - 18-12-2015

RENEWAL OF FIREARM LICENCES: PROOF OF USE OF FIREARM FOR PURPOSES INDICATED IN ORIGINAL LICENCE APPLICATION

Section 24 of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act 60 of 2000 as amended) stipulate the following re renewal of firearm licences:

24 Renewal of firearm licences

(1)           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.

(2)           The application must be-

(a)           accompanied by such information as may be prescribed; and

(b)           delivered to the Designated Firearms Officer responsible for the area in which the applicant ordinarily resides or in which the applicant`s business is, as the case may be.

(3)           No application for the renewal of a licence may be granted unless the applicant shows that he or she has continued to comply with the requirements for the licence in terms of this Act.

(4)       If an application for the renewal of a licence has been lodged within the period provided for in subsection (1), the licence remains valid until the application is decided.

Your attention is specifically drawn to Section 24(1) and 24(4).

Section 24(4) is interpreted to mean that you have to show regular use of especially your hunting and sport shooting firearm(s) in line with the intended purpose of use, as was stipulated in the motivation for the original licence application.

For self defence firearms (Section 13 licences) a fresh motivation is needed which again explains the need for a firearm for self protection as last resort (hopefully one cannot prove regular use here).

It is for exactly this reason the NHSA has developed the electronic scores and activities reporting system, so that members can download an official scores & activities report from their certificates page if and when they would need same for renewal of licences (or for application for new licences in order to prove participation).

Please do not slip here as it is easy for SAPS (CFR) to deny the re-issue of a firearm licence if the applicant cannot show regular use of the specific firearm over time, or of regular participation in sport shooting activities with the firearm over time.

Regular use of a firearm probably will mean that you prove at least three shoots per annum with a sport shooting firearm (target shotin, NHSA postals, reloading and load devlopment will probably count here)

For a hunting firearm regular use will probably be adequate if one hunt per annum can be sown (due to expenses) with the spoecific firearm, or target shooting with the firearm or reloading and load development specifically for that firearm.

We still advise that members apply for endorsements on their personal Natshoot web pages for all licence applications - be that for new licences or for renewals of licences

Kind regards

Herman Els