Courses / The Firearms Control Act / Lesson 7
Loss, disposal and deceased estates
Deadlines and the right way to let go. Lesson 7 of 8 · about 8 minutes to watch.
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Loss, disposal and deceased estates
Firearms Act, lesson 7 of 8: deadlines and the right way to let go
Today: what to do if a firearm is lost or stolen, how to sell or dispose of one lawfully, and what happens when an owner dies.
The deadlines that matter
Here are the deadlines on one chart. Report a lost or stolen firearm within twenty-four hours. Apply for a copy of a lost licence within seven days, and produce your licence and firearm within seven days if asked. An executor notifies SAPS within fourteen days of appointment, and a deactivation must be notified within fourteen days. Changes to your details within thirty days. And after unfitness, disposal within sixty days.
If it's lost or stolen
- 1Report in 24 hoursPolice station nearest to where it happened
- 2Licence deferredOn hold while it's missing
- 3If it's foundThe licence runs for its remaining time
Section 120(11): report within twenty-four hours, at the police station nearest to where it happened. That applies to the licence holder and to anyone who had it at the time. Regulation 99 then defers the licence indefinitely; if the firearm is recovered and returned, the licence runs for the rest of its validity. Anel reminds Thandi to keep a record of her serial numbers somewhere other than home, which makes the report much faster.
If the licence card is lost
- Tell SAPS within 24 hours
- Apply for a copy within 7 days
- On form SAPS 517(b)
Section 29 covers the licence document itself: inform SAPS within twenty-four hours, and apply for a copy within seven days.
Lawful ways to let a firearm go
| Option | How | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Sell or transfer | Through a licensed dealer | 31(2) |
| From a collection | May be sold or donated directly, under the rules | 31(3) |
| Deactivate | Only by a gunsmith; notify within 14 days | 150 |
| Hand it in | At a police station, with a receipt | Reg 94 |
| Destroy | Only with the Registrar's written permission | 149 |
Johan wants to sell his old shotgun. Section 31(2) says a non-dealer may dispose of a firearm only through a dealer, or as the Act otherwise provides. Collections are the exception under 31(3). A firearm may be deactivated only by a gunsmith, and the holder notifies the Registrar within fourteen days. You may hand one in voluntarily at a police station and get a receipt. Destruction needs the Registrar's prior written permission. Afterwards, regulation 98 says surrender the licence to the DFO.
When an owner dies
- 1Before appointmentNominated executor may hold firearms on a temporary authorisation
- 2Store safelyIn a safe that meets the rules
- 3Notify in 14 daysInventory, storage, heirs, appointment
- 4Report every 3 monthsUntil every firearm is dealt with
- 5Estate closesOnly once SAPS confirms transfer
Sections 147 and 148 and regulation 103. Before letters of executorship, the nominated executor may hold the firearms on a temporary authorisation. The executor stores them in a compliant safe, notifies SAPS within fourteen days of appointment with an inventory and details, and reports at least every three months. The estate can't be finalised until SAPS confirms every firearm has been transferred.
If you're the heir
- Apply for a licence in your own name
- Or sell it through a dealer
- Or have it deactivated, or hand it in
An heir must apply for a licence to keep the firearm, which means competency and a safe like any applicant, or have it deactivated or disposed of. SAPS may give a temporary authorisation for reasonable time to do that.
Your turn
Before lesson 8
- Do the exercise: What's the deadline?
- Answer four quick questions on this lesson
- Write down your firearms' serial numbers and keep them away from home
Before lesson 8, match eight situations to their deadline and answer four questions. Then record your serial numbers somewhere safe outside your home. Next: ammunition.
Do: What's the deadline?
Match each situation to the deadline the law sets.
Check
Four quick questions. The reason shows as soon as you answer.
Apply
Where this shows up in your own life.
Write down the make, model and serial number of each firearm you own (or will own) and keep it somewhere safe away from home.
Ridgeview Firearms Academy and its people are fictional. This is study material written from the Firearms Control Act and the SAQA unit standards. It isn't an accredited course or legal advice; your accredited training provider runs the official tests.