Firearm Licence: Good news for future licensing!!! 2

**Jack** · 17-11-2010, 08:31

Oh what Joy and jubilation, government and us have come to an understanding except the CFR have moved the goal posts yet AGAIN, AND Bothma is back in his office.

When will the “Fix the FCA brigade” ever learn that the powers that be are out to screw us?

SUID-AFRIKAANSE POLISIEDIENS
Privaatsak/ Private Bag X811

Verwysing Reference 27/3/1

Navrae Enquiries Brigadier Bothma Colonel Govender

Telefoon Telephone (012)353-6268
(012)353-6034

Faksnommer Fax number (012) 353-6041
Brigadier Bothma
Colonel Govender

SAPS 21
SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE
FIREARMS, LIQUOR AND SECOND-HAND
GOODS CONTROL
HEAD OFFICE
PRETORIA
0001
2010-11-01
All Provincial Commissioners
SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE
RE: APPLICATION FOR FIREARMS LICENCES LODGED IN TERMS OF THE FIREARMS
CONTROL, 2000 (ACT NO. 60 OF 2000).

1. In terms of section 6 (2) of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000), no
person may be issued with a firearm licence if such person is not in possession of a
relevant competency certificate issued by the Registrar.

2. This implies that the applicant has complied with the requirements of the Firearms
Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000) in that he/she already possess a relevant
competency certificate to possess a firearm.

3. It is therefore clear that the applicant must be in possession of a relevant competency
certificate before he/she lodged an application for a firearm licence.

4. The Designated Firearm Officers are therefore informed that where a person has
intended to lodge an application for a firearm licence and such person is not in
possession of a relevant competency certificate, such person must be informed that
the application for a firearm licence cannot be accepted and processed before he/she
is in possession of a relevant competency certificate. If the relevant competency
certificate was refused, the application for a firearm licence to possess a specific
category of firearm must not be processed.

5. All applications for firearm licences, renewal of firearm licences and competency
certificates already lodged with the South African Police Service must be processed
and forwarded to the Central Firearms Register and the respective provincial office
concerned in accordance with the prescribed instructions applicable to the forwarding
of applications.

6. The Designated Firearms Officer must therefore verify the identity number of the
applicant on the Enhanced Firearms Register System to determine whether an
application for the relevant competency certificate was approved before an
application for a firearm licence may be received.

7.
This office evenly numbered circular 27/3/1 dated 2005-05-31 is hereby repealed and
substituted with this circular which shall come into operation on 05 November 2010.

8. You co-operation and support on the effective implementation of the Firearms Control
legislation is highly appreciated.

Signed by

LIEUTENANT GENERAL
LJ Mothiba

**Lian** · 17-11-2010, 08:44

not to be funny, but it kinda makes sense.
you cannot start the process of buying a car, without actually having a "driving competency certificate" (car license) first.

sucks balls, yes. takes stupid long, yes.
but still makes sense, when you think objectively about it.

but is bothma really back in charge again? wtf?

**Paul** · 17-11-2010, 08:47

Just fired off another (the second this morning) request for clarity to JIQ.

Monday's meeting should be 'interesting'...

**shooter** · 17-11-2010, 08:51

A real life zombie apparently.

**Paul** · 17-11-2010, 08:57

Originally Posted by RuneFire

not to be funny, but it kinda makes sense.
you cannot start the process of buying a car, without actually having a "driving competency certificate" (car license) first.

Really?

Bullshit!

You can buy as many cars as you can afford without any kind of a license. You can even license the cars and have them driven around. You can even drive them around on private property to your heart's delight. You may just not drive them on a public road before you have your drivers license.

**Lian** · 17-11-2010, 09:00

Originally Posted by Paul

Really?

Bullshit!

You can buy as many cars as you can afford without any kind of a license. You can even license the cars and have them driven around. You can even drive them around on private property to your heart's delight. You may just not drive them on a public road before you have your drivers license.

ag dude, you are compleeetely missing the point
*sigh*

**Paul** · 17-11-2010, 09:19

Originally Posted by RuneFire

ag dude, you are compleeetely missing the point
*sigh*

I often do.

So, what is the point then?

JIQ told us that certain classes of folk are automatically disqualified from FA ownership and shouldn't even clog up the system trying (folk with Domestic Protection Orders against them, etc). If this (the OP) is some ham-fisted attempt at expressing that, then it is more indicative of the depth of the education crisis in SA, than anything else.

JIQ also seems quite happy to clearly set out the basis for "sufficient motivation" (the 'holy grail' of info that has long been denied us), and on that basis to remove much of the discretion of the DFO and the CFR to invent law as they go along.

I just sent JIQ an email requesting clarity on the OP, and asking exactly that: whether the CFR is making this all up as they go along?

I will revert.

**ArnoG26** · 17-11-2010, 09:33

Although the whole process is BS! The above letter makes sense. Your license won't get processed if you don't have competency, we all know that and understand that. There won't be a magical wand that they are going to use, all the processes will disappear and all the problems solved. That memo is nothing to get upset about. There might have been questions asked at various offices of what is going to happen next after the press release. The act will never disappear. What we are interested in and hopefully it will get discussed on the 22nd of Nov is: what are they going to do to process all the applications? How are they going to deal whit the current business process at the various offices? Are they going to work longer hours? Get more people? Maybe appoint temps to help with capturing of information? What are the deadlines in writing by the is the minister? We want a workable solution!If Bothma or Piettie Paas Haas is there or not it doesn’t matter. The dir will have to perform now matter who he is. If he don’t he will get fired. When a minister says jump. Everyone below him ask how high and how often would you like it sir? Now that CFR’s poor performance is escalated to the minster the dir of that department is going to shit bricks. Weekly meetings, progress reports ext. He is going to have mountains of shit to deal with.

**gizmo16** · 17-11-2010, 09:41

Still a bit unclear. It says 'relevant' competency certificate. That doesn't necessarily define what relevant is? I have other competencies, perhaps not for the firearm I am wishing to license, but are those existing competencies not relevant?

There was an advantage to having your new license app sent with your competency app as at least your license was ready to process once the competency was done. Pretty sure this will cause more delays.. guess time will tell.

**Paul** · 17-11-2010, 09:51

Guys, this is all waaaay besides the point.

The previous instructions from the SAPS were crystal clear in that you SHOULD submit license and competency apps simultaneously!

They have now changed their minds, without making any effort to communicate this to the public first.

My reading of this is that they are trying to accommodate JIQ's desire to not have to waste time on license apps that are never going to go anywhere, but they have bodged the instruction in the CFR's own, inimitable way.

I've requested clarity from SWMBO, let's see what she gets back with.