Permanent Resident status and Firearm ownership in SA.

**cimic** · 19-09-2012, 13:52

I am a British passport holder with a Permanent Residence Permit in SA. I do not possess a South African ID No. / ID Book.

I have recently submitted an application for a Competency Certificate together with an application to possess an SD handgun and a hunting rifle. I have completed the necessary firearms training courses and legal test.

I thought all the boxes were checked off, but when the local Firearms Officer tried to input info from my forms on to the Police firearms database he encountered a stumbling block: the computerised information system will not accept an applicant's data without the applicant having a South African ID Number.

According to the FO I must obtain an SA ID No. before my firearms licence applications can be processed. I wrote to the DHA Enquiries section with an enquiry and I was told that it can take up to nine months (max.) for a Permanent Resident's ID application to be processed.

So I have encountered yet another hurdle to be surmounted before I can possess a licensed firearm. Do I have any legal redress here? As the law stands is a Permanent Resident legally required to obtain an SA ID # in order to apply for a firearm licence? Or must I simply accept the situation I have outlined and apply for an ID # / ID book?

**MAB** · 19-09-2012, 14:19

I'm German and got my permanent residence in 2004 but only got my ID in 2008. After never receiving the ID, i went to apply again and the application took around 6 weeks. Not 9 months.

It will probably be quicker to just apply for the ID than to try explain and fight with the DFO/CFR

**spiggs** · 10-10-2012, 19:45

My old man is Italian and has recently recieved his ID book also took 6 weeks to get, he applied for a sec 13 and sec 15 weapon and both approved so its possible

**long range** · 10-10-2012, 19:58

you can apply on Sec 21 using your passport for SD

**cimic** · 11-10-2012, 17:21

Thanks for the replies guys, my ID application was submitted today after a delay of 3 weeks while my PR permit was sent off to Pretoria for "authentication". I am encouraged to hear that the ID book could take about 6 weeks, great; I was just going on what I was told by a DHA official on their call centre. @ Long Range, I will look into what you have said about applying for an SD licence under Section 21. If you can supply more info that would be good. Thanks in advance.