Thousands of South African firearm owners who have legally disposed of their firearms could be on the wrong side of the law due to no fault of their own by next month, a hunting body said on Monday.

Confederation of Hunters Associations of South Africa (Chasa) spokesman Neil Jones said many of its members and members of the public who were under the impression they had "legally disposed of" their firearms could face the possibility of arrest next month.

This related to the transitional period for the renewal of firearm licences in terms of the new Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000, which would end on 30 June.

The national hunting body, representing 22 South African hunting associations, said in a statement these people had sold their firearms or given them to other individuals.

Chasa believed these "original firearm owners" acted according to the Firearms Control Act by lawfully disposing of their firearms.

However, Jones said many were unaware that the situation had changed regarding these firearms, especially where the new firearm licence application was not yet finalised by Central Firearms Register (CFR).

The SAPS-539 storage permits issued and used by many of these firearm owners, allowing them to legally store the firearms, would also become invalid on 1 July.

Jones said individuals in this situation, who had storage permits for sold firearms until the new licence has been issued, could face prosecution if they did not deal with the firearms in the correct manner now.

In an effort to address this problem the CFR announced recently that the original firearm owners could apply for Article 21 Temporary Permits, allowing them to put the firearms in safekeeping until the new owner's application had been dealt with.

Jones said should the original owner no longer be in South Africa, or not have the necessary safe to store the firearms, they must be handed to the police for safekeeping.

As a result Chasa strongly advised its members and individuals to immediately determine the status of their relicensing applications by contacting their local designated firearms officer.

As from 1 July any firearm owner who was stopped at a roadblock, must provide proof of his relicensing, otherwise the police could seize the firearm, without a warrant, and hold it until the owner could provide proof.

Jones said firearm owners, who had not yet received their new licences, should carry all the necessary documentation with them as from 1 July.

Chasa also urged all firearm owners to stay abreast of the correct procedures to prevent them finding themselves on the wrong side of the law on 1 July.

Sapa

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