English text follows the Afrikaans text

Geagte Lid

Ten einde SAJWV instaat te stel om deeglik gefundeerde argumente en bewyse aan die Minsiter van Polisie voor te lê oor die onbeholpenheid van die SAPD se vuurwapenlisensie afdeling ten opsigte van die tyd wat dit neem om aansoeke vir bevoegdheidsertifikate en vir nuwe vuurwapenlisensies af te handel benodig ons asseblief dringend u hulp. Die inligting sal ook gebruik kan word sou dit nodig word om dringende aansoeke voor die hof te bring vir ’n meer realistiese en haalbare benadering tot die administrasie van die vuurwapenlisensiëringsproses na 30 Junie 2009.

Lede wat op die ondergemelde wyses met aansoeke vir vuurwapenlisensies benadeel is moet asseblief onverwyld, voor 31 Mei 2009, hulle besonderhede by die volgende webadres gaan invul (u kan vanuit hierdie e-pos na die betrokke webadres deurklik): http://www.sahunters.co.za (Neem kennis dat dit nie die normale SAJWV webadres is nie).

Besonderhede wat van lede benodig word is as volg:
(vul asseblief die betrokke veld in wat op u van betrekking is en maak asseblief seker u vul die veld in wat vra by watter SAPD-stasie u die aansoeke ingedien het):


Aansoeke vir nuwe lisensies met bevoegdheid:
Persone wat reeds oor bevoedgheid beskik het toe aansoeke ingedien is en waarvan die aansoeke op 1 Mei 2009 vir langer as 6 maande uitstaande was.
Aansoeke vir Bevoegdheid:
Persone waarvan die aansoeke vir bevoegdheid op 1 Mei 2009 vir langer as 12 maande uitstaande was
Aansoeke vir Nuwe Lisensies sonder bevoegdheid:
Persone waarvan aansoeke vir nuwe lisensies sonder bevoegdheid op 1 Mei vir langer as 12 maande uitstaande was.
Aansoeke vir Hernuwing van Lisensies:
Persone waarvan aansoeke vir hernuwings van bestaande lisensies op 1 Mei vir langer as 12 maande uitstaande was.

U dringende hulp in hierdie verband sal baie hoog op prys gestel word.

Groetnis
Krappies Els
Bestuurder: Bewaringskoördinering.



Dear Member

In order for SAHGCA to be able to furnish the Minister of Police with realistic proof of the SAPS Firearms Section’s inability to finalise applications for competency certificates and for new licences in good time, we urgently need your assistance. This information could also be used if it should become necessary to bring urgent court application to effect a more realistic and achievable approach to the administration of the firearms licence applications process after 30 June 2009.

Members who have been negatively affected in the application of their firearms licences as per the under mentioned criteria, are urgently requested to please before 31 May 2009 fill in their particulars at the following web address (you can click through to the web address from this email): http://www.sahunters.co.za (Note that it is not the ordinary SAHGCA web address)

Particulars needed from such members are the following:
(please complete the specific field which has bearing on your particular circumstances, and please ascertain that you fill in the field which indicates the SAPS station where you submitted your applications):

Applications for New Licences with competency:
Persons who had been issued with competency certificates when application for new licence(s) were submitted, and of who the application(s) were outstanding for longer than 6 months on 1 May 2009.
Applications for Competency:
Persons of who the application for competency was outstanding for longer than 12 months on 1 May 2009.
Applications for New Licences without competency:
Persons without competency and of who applications were outstanding for longer than 12 months on 1 May 2009.
Applications for Renewal of Licences:
Persons of who their applications for renewal of existing licences were outstanding for longer than 12 months on 1 May 2009.

Your urgent assistance in this regard will be highly appreciated.

Best Regards
Krappies Els
Manager: Conservation Co-ordination

GUN OWNERS GET REPRIEVE
2009-06-26 14:24

Pretoria - More than one million South African firearm owners who have not yet re-applied for their licences were given temporary reprieve by the High Court in Pretoria on Friday.

Judge Bill Prinsloo granted an interim interdict to the SA Hunters and Game Conservation Association, declaring that firearm licences obtained under the old Arms and Ammunition Act will be deemed valid for the time being.

The interim order will remain in effect pending the final outcome of the association's application to have certain sections of the new Firearms Control Act declared unconstitutional.

The association contends that Schedule 1 of the new Act, which deals with transitional arrangement, is unreasonable, infringes on the rights of firearm owners and is unconstitutional.

It also maintains that the SA Police Service is unable to cope with the flood of licence applications and firearms being handed in for destruction.

The deadline for either re-applying or handing in firearms was June 30

SA Jagters en Wildbewaringsvereniging
Bewaring deur Volhoubare Benutting
(English to follow Afrikaans at the bottom of the newsletter)
PERSVERKLARING - Vuurwapenlisensies
Die uitspraak wat op Vrydag, 26 Junie 2009 in die Noord Gauteng se afdeling van die Hoogeregshof gelewer is in die aansoek van die SA Jagters- en Wildbewaringsvereniging (SAJWV) teen die Minister van Veiligheid en Sekuriteit dat vuurwapenlisensies wat ingevolge die vorige Vuurwapenwet (1969) uitgereik, steeds geldig bly, stem die georganiseerde jagbedryf tot groot tevredenheid.

Die Hof het Æn tussentydse interdik uitgereik wat sal geld tot die hoofaansoek om die grondwetlikheid van die oorgangsbepalings, soos vervat in die Wet op die Beheer van Vuurwapens (Wet 60 van 2000), beslis is. In die hoofaansoek sal die Hof uitspraak moet lewer of die grondwetlike beginsels ten opsigte van die beskerming van privaat eiendom, die beginsel teen kriminele vervolging, asook billike administratiewe prosedures nagekom is.

Die SAJWV se dringende aansoek het Æn bydrae daartoe gelewer dat duisende Suid- Afrikaanse wettige vuurwapeneienaars nie na 30 Junie 2009 krimineel vervolg kan vir die onwettige besit van vuurwapens nie.

Die uitspraak is Æn oorwinning vir die wetsgehoorsame vuurwapeneienaars. Daar is tydens die hofaansoek onvoldoende bewys gelewer dat wettige vuurwapens en veral jagwapens tydens misdaad gebruik word en die besit daarvan gevolglik beperk moet word nie.

Die SAJWV is saam met die SAPD Æn stigterslid van die Jagtersforum en sal voortgaan om konstruktief met die SAPD en ander geakkrediteerde jagtersverenigings saam te werk om die bepalings van die Vuurwapenwet te implementeer. Die SAJWV sal voortgaan om in belang van sy lede op effektiewe en billike administratiewe prosedures aan te dring.

Die SAJWV bedank graag sy regspan, Mnr George Nell, prokureur van die Vereniging, Advokaat George Diamond en Advokaat Bertus Bergenthuyn (SC) asook die bestuur van die SAJWV en elke lid van die Vereniging wat met hulle bydraes die gunstige uitspraak moontlik gemaak het.

Die toetrede tot die hofsaak van die Professionele Jagtersvereniging (PHASA) asook die SA Vuurwapen- en Ammunisieversamelaarsvereniging het die SAJWV se saak beslis versterk. Jarelange samewerking met ander geakkrediteerde jagtersverenigings en hul insette op die Jagtersforum het die SAJWV in staat gestel om sinvol die jagbedryf se belange te verstaan en te help beskerm.


In kort beteken die hofuitspraak vir die vuurwapeneienaar die volgende;


Bestaande groen lisensies (uitgereik ingevolge die ou Vuurwapenwet van 1969) bly geldig tot afhandeling van die hoofhofsaak;
æn Vuurwapeneienaar kan gevolglik vanaf 1 Julie 2009 nie krimineel vervolg word omdat hy æn wapen met bestaande lisensie besit nie, maar dit geld net tot diehoofhofsaak beslis is;
Dit is nie meer nodig om aansoek te doen vir Artikel 21, tydelike magtigings nie;
Bergingspermitte wat na 30 Junie 2009 nog geldig is, bly geldig tot die vervaldatum daarvan;
Daar is geen noodsaak om vuurwapens voor 30 Junie 2009 vir bewaring ofvernietiging by die SAPD in te handig nie;
Indien æn vuurwapeneienaar nie aansoek gedoen het vir die herlisensiÙring van sy vuurwapens nie, kan dit steeds gedoen word, onderhewig aan gevalle waar dieapplikant siek, of in die buiteland of weens omstandighede buite sy beheer nie betyds vir hernuwing aansoek kon doen nie, en die applikant voldoende bewys aan die SAPD kan lewer en hulle daarvan kan oortuig om sodanige aansoeke teaanvaar.
Wettige vuurwapeneienaars mag dus hulle vuurwapens gebruik tot tyd en wyl die hoofhofsaak beslis is en die ôou groen lisensieö is voldoende bewys van wettige besit.

Die SAJWV bedank al sy lede, asook buite instansies en individue wat aansienlike bydraes tot die Vereniging se Regshulpfonds gelewer het.



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SA Hunters and Game Conservation Association
Conservation through Sustainable Utilisation

PRESS RELEASE - Firearm Licenses

The SA Hunters and Game Conservation Association (SAHGCA) is glad to report that on 26th June 2009 the Northern Gauteng Division of the High Court granted an interim interdict against the Minister of Safety and Security confirming that firearm licenses which were issued in terms of the ôOldö Firearms Act (1969) will be deemed to remain valid until the main application has been finalised.

The interim interdict was granted pending the outcome of the main application, which will determine the constitutionality of the transitional provisions contained in the Firearms Control Act (Act 60 of 2000). The Court will have to decide whether the constitutional principles in respect of the protection of private property, the principle against criminal prosecution as well as fair administrative procedures had been complied with.

SAHGCA made a valuable contribution to ensure that thousands of South African firearm owners will not be criminally prosecuted for the illegal posession of firearms after 30 June 2009.

The judgement is a victory for law abiding firearm owners. During the Court application

insufficient proof was given that legitimate firearms (and in particular hunting firearms)are being used during the commissioning of crimes and that the possession of such firearms should be restricted.

SAHGCA and the SAPS are founder members of the Hunters Forum and will continue to work with the SAPS and the other accredited hunting associations in a constructivemanner to implement the provisions of the Firearms Control Act. SAHGCA will, on behalf of legal firearm owners continue to insist on effective and fair administrative procedures.

SAHGCA thanks its attorney, Mr George Nell as well as Advocate George Diamond and Advocate Bertus Bergenthuyn (SC), the management of SAHGCA and every member who made this positive judgement possible.

The joining in the application of the Professional Hunters (PHASA) as well as the SAFirearms and Collectors Association also strengthened the case. The collaboration with other accredited hunting associations and the SAPS on the Hunters Forum enabledSAHGCA to assist in the protection of the hunting industriesÆ interests.


In short the judgment means that:

Existing old ôgreen licensesö (issued in terms of the Firearms Act of 1969) will remain valid until finalisation of the main application, and cannot be criminally charged for the illegal possession of such a firearm;
It is no longer necessary to apply for Section 21 û temporary authorisations;
Storage permits which are valid until after 30 June 2009, will remain valid until itsexpiry date;
There is no reason to hand firearms in at the SAPS for safekeeping or destruction before or on 30 June 2009;
If a firearm owner has not applied for the re-licensing of his firearm such application can still be done if the applicant was ill, or outside the country or had not submitted renewal applications due to circumstances beyond his control, and pending the fact that he can convince the SAPS that his reasons are compelling enough for them to receive his renewal applications late.
Consequently legal firearm owners may posess and use their firearms until the mainapplication has been decided and the ôold green licenceö will be sufficient proof of the legal possession of firearms.

SAHGCA thanks all its members, outside institutions and individuals who have made substantial contributions to the AssociationsÆ Legal Aid Fund.


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Kontak: / Contact
George Nell (082 772 9290)
Dr Herman Els (083 294 7503)