The South African Police Service moved on Friday to clarify apparent confusion over the renewal of firearm licences.
Some people were under the impression that the Firearms Control Act had been implemented, and that people in possession of firearm licences had to renew these in terms of this legislation, the SAPS said in a statement.
”This misperception has even been published in the media and is contributing to the confusion.”
However, the SAPS was currently still preparing for the implementation of this Act.
Although the legislation had been passed by Parliament and signed by President Thabo Mbeki, it had not yet been implemented in full.
”Only Section 113, which deals with powers of police officials to obtain body prints and samples, and Section 140, which gives the minister the right to declare certain premises as firearm free zones, have been implemented.”
The old Arms and Ammunition Act of 1969 was still being enforced, and all firearms were licensed in terms of this act.
”In terms of the current legislation there are different types of firearm licenses that are legal.
”All licenses and permits issued in terms of the Arms and Ammunition Act, 1969, including all the licenses that are pasted into the blue and green identity documents and the laminated licence are still valid,” the SAPS said.
Although the people who had their firearms licensed in the former TBVC states had to re-license their firearms in terms of the Arms and Ammunition Act, the licences were still valid.
”When a police official finds that a person has not re-licensed firearms that were previously licensed in the former TBVC states, the person may be charged for not re-licensing.”
All current licences would stay valid until such a time that an official announcement was made in this regard, the SAPS said. – Sapa