24 hrs To report a lost or stolen firearm
24 hrs To tell SAPS your licence card is lost
7 days To apply for a replacement licence (SAPS 517(b))
- Step 1YouWithin 24 hoursReport it
At the police station nearest to where it happened. Get a case number.
- Step 2SAPSLicence put on hold
The licence for that firearm is suspended while it's missing.
- Step 3SAPSIf it's found
The licence becomes valid again.
If your firearm is lost or stolen
Report it within 24 hours of finding out, at the police station nearest to where it happened. This applies to the licence holder and to anyone who had the firearm at the time. Not reporting it is an offence (section 120(11)).
After you report it, the licence for that firearm is put on hold. If the firearm is found, the licence becomes valid again (regulation 99).
Losing a firearm because you didn’t lock it away properly, or didn’t keep the safe keys safe, can itself be an offence (section 120(8)). Read the safe rules.
If your licence card is lost or stolen
- Tell SAPS within 24 hours of finding out.
- Apply for a replacement on form SAPS 517(b) within 7 days (section 29).
Keep a recordWrite down the make, model and serial number of each firearm and keep a photo of each licence somewhere safe away from your home. It makes reporting much faster.