Firearm licensing, explained
Clear, practical guides to the whole journey - competency, the licence sections, renewals, estate firearms and self-defence law. Authored by the reviewing practitioner.
A beginner's guide to firearm licensing in South Africa
The whole journey - competency, licensing, safekeeping and the rules of ownership - explained plainly under the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000.
Read the guide →Competency explained: the gate before any licence
Before you can licence a firearm you need SAPS competency. Here's the PFTC training, the modules, the documents and the timelines.
Read the guide →Section 13, 15 or 16: which licence do you need?
Self-defence, occasional sport & hunting, or dedicated status - what each section allows, for how long, and the firearm limits that apply.
Read the guide →Self-defence and the law: private defence vs necessity
Education, not advice: the common-law basis of private defence in South Africa, three persistent myths, and what the law actually requires.
Read the guide →Renewals: competency and licences
Competency renewal needs no motivation and shouldn't cost much. Licence renewal under Section 24 is inconsistent - here's the sensible approach.
Read the guide →Estate and inherited firearms
What executors and heirs must do when a firearm owner dies - storage, reporting to the Registrar, inheritance, sale, and green licences.
Read the guide →Expired-licence firearms: what you can do
You may apply for a new licence for a firearm whose licence expired - no surrender required. Here's the practical route.
Read the guide →Ready to put this into an application?
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