Middelburg: The South African Police Service (SAPS) has conducted 3,728 compliance inspections at business premises, including gun dealers and security companies, under the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000. The inspections are part of ongoing efforts to ensure that licence holders adhere to the Act’s stringent requirements regarding the safe storage, proper authorisation, and accountability of all licensed firearms and ammunition.

According to South African Government News Agency, the Act mandates that all gun owners must possess both a competency certificate and a valid licence or permit to hold a firearm, whether for individual or business purposes. The National Tracking and Tracing Task Team, which is part of Operation Buyisa, recently arrested a 55-year-old gun dealer in Middelburg, Mpumalanga, for non-compliance with the Act. As a result, 537 licensed firearms and ammunition were confiscated.

A preliminary report indicates that the task team acted on information regarding a security company allegedly operating in Middelburg with expired firearm licences. Further investigation led the team to a location on the outskirts of eMalahleni, where they discovered that a gun dealer had stored a large quantity of licensed firearms and ammunition at an unlicensed facility due to a lack of storage space at the registered business premises.

The SAPS has issued a statement reminding licensed gun owners and institutions that, under Section 120(1) of the Firearms Control Act, it is an offence to contravene or fail to comply with any provision of the Act, breach conditions of a licence, permit, or authorisation, or disregard any lawful notice or requirement under the Act. The police emphasize that regular firearm compliance inspections at business premises are crucial for enforcing accountability and ensuring accurate records of licensed firearms and ammunition are maintained.