As we all predicted, the laws were made and decreed, but implementation is African style, as usual. Head-lines in The Star twice the past week.
I got this e-mail from PHASA today:



Dear PHASA Member:
The South African Police Service has announced that the Regulations to the Firearm Control Act of 2000 will be implemented from 1 July 2004.

For your foreign hunting clients, this will involve changes to the current requirements, procedures and allowances for the processing of temporary import permits for firearms.

Despite continuing attempts to obtain clarification from the Police on the exact requirements, and despite advising them of the critical nature of the matter, they have not been forthcoming, nor is there any one official document available from the authorities where all the official and confirmed information can be ascertained.

In addition to this, and after conversations with Police on the ground, we are of the opinion that they are not ready to fully implement the new procedures on July 1.

Due to these factors, we are doing everything possible to secure a postponement of the implementation date until such time as the Police are ready and clients have been duly and properly notified.

In the meantime, and with the implementation date looming, PHASA suggests that you advise concerned clients of the possible pending implementation, but assure them that it is business as usual with the current requirements for the temporary importation of firearms applying until notified otherwise

Any further news in this regard will be emailed to you and/or posted on the PHASA Website (www.professionalhunters.co.za), once the full correct information has been received from the authorities.

Please be assured that we are doing everything in our power to ensure that these new laws have minimal impact on our entire industry.

Sincerely,

Dieter Ochsenbein

President

Professional Hunters’ Association of South Africa (PHASA)

Tel. 27 12 667 2048

Fax: 27 12 667 2049

Email: phasa@pixie.co.za or info@phasa.co.za

www.professionalhunters.co.za

For those that may not be aware of it, please see this thread for more information concerning this topic:

RSA firearms import, curiouser & curiouser

This thread covers this topic in detail.

-Bob F.

This is proof that democracy is a bad idea for some cultures. Bring back de Klerk!