Do any of our African members have a direct phone number that can put my outfitter in touch with somebody who knows what is going to be needed after June 1st or July 1st or whenever it will be? A name would be nice, as well.

Prior to speaking with my travel agent yesterday I had contacted Air 2000 and supplied my gun info to them to pre-arrage my in transit permit. Their fee is $70. They will have the permit ready on my arrival meet and greet and walk me through customs. After being told I didn't need to worry about it if I check my bag though to my destination I thought about cancelling. I'm now thinking the $70 will be well spent just in case. Air 2000's web page is www.hunterssupport.com

I pulled this from some previous posts.



"The Central Firearms Register in Pretoria has established a firearms call center for enquires. The number during normal office hours is 27 12 353 6111 or fax 27 12 353 6036."



This from a website:



"The Central Firearms Control Register has established a firearms call centre for all enquiries related to firearm licence applications and information on the firearms legislation. The firearms call centre number during office hours is (012) 353-6111 and the fax number is (012) 353-6036.



Enquiries : Snr Supt Andrew Lesch

Communication and Liaison Services,

082 779 8710

firearms@saps.org.za"





Regards,



Terry

Thanx, Terry,
I forwarded your entire post to Candace at Bahati.

Terry,



Thanks for the contact info.



I wrote Mr. Lesch the following e-mail last evening:





Dear Superintendent Lesch,



I will be traveling to your country on June 14, 2004 for a hunting trip with Toros Afrika Safaris (Bloemfontein). As such I will be bringing in two bolt action rifles, of different caliber's, and approximately 40 rounds of ammunition for each of these rifles.



My outfitter has supplied me with a SAP311 form and I have filled it out (but not signed it). I will also be in possession of the U.S. customs form 4457, as proof of my ownership of my hunting weapons.



I understand that new regulations are coming into effect on June 1 and that I might need notify the RSA government at least 21 days prior to my arrival with my hunting firearms.



Can you tell me if this is true and how I might make this notification? Additionally are there any other requirements that I should know about?



Thank you for your time.



Best Regards,



Steven A. Holder





< !--color-->



I recieved the following this morning:







Dear Mr Holder,



The new Act and Regulations will come into effect in July 2004. Please continue with your application for an import permit under the current regulations.



Kind regards





Senior Superintendent

ANDREW LESCH

COMMUNICATION AND LIAISON SERVICES

(012) 393-5503

< !--color-->



So at least I'm off the hook.



Thanks again,



-Steve

Steve,



Thanks for the info.



I noticed Mr. Lesch's phone number is different in his email reply than in the info I provided.



I also emailed him with several questions regarding the new Act, I haven't yet received a reply.



Regards,



Terry

Terry,

No problem. I noticed the number was different as well.

Suffice it to say that I will be bringing a hard copy of the e-mail with me when I fly. The whole thing is just to confusing and I want something that I can wave in someone's face.

Take Care,

-Steve

I've emailed Sr Spnt. Lesch with the suggestion that we email pre-completed 311's.

Gentlemen,

The chaos surrounding the Firearms Act and it's implementation has created a myriad of hassles.
It is confusing for locals, and Heaven knows it must be 10x worse for "furriners".

There is another thread on the forum telling how folks are being hassled at Jhb international with confiscations etc.
How much of this is fact and how much urban legend and how much is as a result of people trying to smuggle things in illegally we will never really know.

My suggestion is that all travelling hunters make a note of these details.
Martin Hood - Attorney phone +27-11-234-7520, mobile +27-72-178-5268 and email mjhood@legalcom.co.za

Martin specialises in the new act and has been at the forefront of the fight against it.
Should any forum member run into what might be construed as unnecesary hassles from the police at the customs posts within RSA then a call to him might prove judicious.

According to Anne @ Hunter Support/Air 2000 in RSA, there are in excess of 76 firearms currently in the police station @ JIA that have been confiscated for various reasons and will be returned to hunters when they fly back home...

I leave in 5 weeks with a party of 7 and have been keeping close tabs on what's occuring on a daily basis. Anyone who thinks they can just get by will get a rude awakening, according to Anne. Ammo amounts, headstamps, action types, correlation between ammo and rifle chamberings are all being looked at a lot closer. Frankly, I don't blame them, look @ the security here...