Hello everyone.
Im new to the forum and im really liking what im seeing.
Im moving to Durban with work and im wonder if anyone now how the gun laws work in South African regarding hunting and handguns?
And where is a good place to buy some nice weapons?
Thanks alot.

Hi Carl,

Welcome to the forum.

You won't have any problems finding firearms for sale here as so many people are trying to get rid of some......however the licencing is an absolute nightmare......esp for overseas workers and/or non- residents. A lot will depend on what type of visa you will have.

Handgun hunting is allowed here but under the new act there is a maximum calibre of .45 for hunting handguns and no semi auto's.

Please feel free to send me an e-mail if you need any further info.

BTT

Carl,

When you bring your own rifles in as a tourist hunter I believe that the permit they give is only good for 90 days?

I wonder if you can merely leave the country and turn around and come back to get another permit for another 90 days.

If you are there with a work visa it amy be a different matter entirely. Might be better off renting firearms as needed.

Les

Welcome to sunny Durban.
When do you intend moving over here? as a fellow firearm/hunting enthusiast we would welcome you into the turning money into noise fraternity.
Right now firearms and licencing is an absolute nightmare in RSA. I will chat to our local Firearms officer, who is very much onsides, to see what your alternatives are.
Later,
500

quote:

Originally posted by 500nitro:
Welcome to sunny Durban.
When do you intend moving over here? as a fellow firearm/hunting enthusiast we would welcome you into the turning money into noise fraternity.
Right now firearms and licencing is an absolute nightmare in RSA. I will chat to our local Firearms officer, who is very much onsides, to see what your alternatives are.
Later,
500

Thanks cant wait to get some nice sun.
Will move down first thing next and looking forward to it. Will keep in touch.
Have a good one

You will not get any firearm licenced unless you are either a citizen or a non citizen with a permanent residence status. That's the law as I understand it.

Pete,

I hope you won't mind me correcting you.

The SAP issue a Temporary Licence to Posess a Firearm called a SAPS 526 which allows non-residents who are in RSA on work permits, study permits or own business permits which allows them to posess the firearms for the duration of their visa. When the visa is renewed you just send a copy of the new visa to the SAPS and they renew the SAPS 526 for the duration of the new visa.

These permits are in the form of 3 - A4 sheets of paper for each firearm and a common requirement is that the owner has a firearms licence for those firearms from their country of origin.

Steve,
notwithstanding what the law says.....
Carl would be well advised to get the paperwork sorted before bringing his guns with him. The goons in charge of firearms do not know their own rulebook.
Also, from Chap 6 sec 7 of the regs, there is no mention of a visa tie in. the regs clearly state 6 months max unless the registrar decides otherwise on good cause shown yadda yadda.
In the same section, it would appear that the section pertaining to Carl would be;
(f) to a person who, for other legitimate reasons, has received the prior approval from the registrar and where the applicant can demonstrate;
1) lawful possesion
2) knowledge of use and safe handling/through possession/prior exp/licence (shortened)
3) knowledge of SA laws pertaining to firearms (shortened)
4) a need to possess the firearm
5)that the ned cannot be satisfied by other means (shortened)
6) 21 years or older (shortened.

Given the current attitude at Central Registry.......

The CFR seem to be pretty switched on with this. I don't have residency and am here on an own business permit. I have a UK firearms certificate (one of the very few with permission for a handgun) and they issue me with a 526. Although I have completed my competancy training - it was through choice and not necessity.

The easiest way for Carl to do it would be to bring his firearms in from overseas as a visiting sportsman (and ask for 180 days) and then immediatly apply for a 526 as soon as he gets here. The competancy training although not compulsory can't be a bad thing.

The thing that helps with the 526 is that there seems to be only 2 people in the CFR that issue them so you always know who you're dealing with and they also know you.......I've given Carl their direct lines and both are very helpful.........although like the rest of the CFR a tad slow.

All that said they might have looked on my application with additional favour as I have a safari company based here which obviously requires that I have my own firearms. I ceetainly couldn't complain about the attitude of the CFR staff I've had to deal with. They've all been very good at what they do and always been courteous.

I did however advise Carl to contact the relevant people at the CRF and ask their advice on the matter.

I had another reason to deal with them recently also where one of the PHs who works with us in TZ had his rifle accidentally bought back from there to SA and imported without a permit. (By a well known PH who shall remain nameless - but just afterwards, he disappeared up his own ass)

To cut a long story short I tracked the rifle down to the CFR and asked them to issue an export licence to allow me to return it to TZ. In the end it was refused by the head honcho but again I couldn't complain about the investigating officer. He knew his stuff and was invariably helpful and polite.

quote:

Originally posted by carlsweden:
Hello everyone.
Im new to the forum and im really liking what im seeing.
Im moving to Durban with work and im wonder if anyone now how the gun laws work in South African regarding hunting and handguns?
And where is a good place to buy some nice weapons?
Thanks alot.

Hi Carlsweden

Buy yourself a compound bow when you get to SA, then you can still hunt while you wait for your firearm licenses.(This can take some time)

Welcome to SA

Wimpie