Are your guns licensed?
A man has appeared in Witbank Magistrates court for being in possession of illegal firearms and ammunition that he was allegedly keeping for a friend who had immigrated two years earlier.
A man has appeared in Witbank Magistrates court for being in possession of illegal firearms and ammunition that he was allegedly keeping for a friend who had immigrated two years earlier.
He was granted bail of R1500 but the case highlights an ever present issue in South Africa. What exactly are the correct procedures to follow to make sure your gun is legally in your possession? A firearm license expires every five years just like a driver’s license therefore it is the responsibility of the owner to get it renewed before the expiry date. It does not involve retaking a competency exam which is needed only one time.
Gun control has been a hot topic especially in America for a long time but locally the police are clamping down on negligent gun owners because firearms used in robberies are more often than not weapons stolen from gun owners. In turn this causes the gun owners not to report the theft to police because they know they might be liable for negligence which further adds to the problem.
Brig Delisiwe Goodness Motha (station commander Witbank SAPS) and Capt Eddie Hall (police spokesperson) standing with the confiscated firearms.
The accused in question was arrested for four counts of possession and another count of possessing ammunition for which he did not have a firearm which is illegal. The police allegedly also found one of the hunting rifles under the bed instead of in a safe which is required by law.
Brig Delisiwe Goodness Motha, the station commander for the Witbank SAPS said that there is a procedure to follow for getting someone else to keep firearms on your behalf. “Every station has a designated firearms official.” If people are unsure of how to renew their firearm license every five years or about the correct procedure of changing ownership they should contact their local police station.
“The law still applies when you inherit a firearm for a relative. It does not automatically become yours” she added.
The accused is set to reappear in November.
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