HUNDREDS of local gun owners could find themselves holding invalid competency certificates after specialised police units closed down an illegal Richards Bay firearm training academy on Thursday.
Without valid certification, their gun ownership could also be declared null and void.
A joint operation between the Provincial Crime Intelligence Unit, the Cyber Crime Unit, Empangeni Public Order Policing, the Richards Bay Organised Crime Unit and a verifier from the South African Professional Firearm Training Council (PFTC), closed down the academy and seized documentation that will be used in ongoing investigations.
According to police the academy, which opened its doors six years ago, did not have accreditation from the Safety and Security Sector Education and Training Authority (SASSETA) and PFTC to operate such a training facility.
‘All the documentation seized on the premises were evidence that this academy operated illegally, which renders all the certificates issued to learners dating from 2009 invalid since they were not loaded onto the South African Qualifications Authority system,’ said SAPS media spokesperson, Major Thulani Zwane.
The Eyabantu Safety & Security academy had apparently been operating illegally by assuming the accreditation of its Durban head office.
‘Once our investigation is complete, the suspects will be arrested and charged with fraud and contravention of the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000, the PFTC Act 67 of 2008 and the Skills Developments Act 97 of 2008,’ said Zwane.
Meanwhile, incorrect media references to ‘a firearms dealer’ have created havoc for Bay Sports & Arms, the only registered firearms dealership in Richards Bay.
‘My phone has not stopped ringing from people wanting to know if I have been locked up,’ said owner Bill Fourie.
‘There is a vast difference between selling firearms and issuing certificates of competency, which deal with knowledge of the Firearms Act and competency in the handling and use of a firearm.
‘We ourselves refer buyers to our affiliated firearm training and assessment centre which conforms to all legislation and can be found on the SASSETA register.’
