From the 11/1/2010 until the 11/4/2010 the government have declared a firearms amnesty. This amnesty is aimed specifically at "illegal or unlicensed" firearms, firearm components and ammunition which may be handed in at police stations who have designated amnesty officers.
There is a provision made in terms of this amnesty which will allow the person handing the illegal firearm in, to apply for the license for that firearm if so desired.

There is a misconception being propagated which would lead people to believe that if they have not re-licensed any firearms which were licensed to them in terms of the old Arms and Ammunition act, that they will have to hand them in to the police. This is not true.

Central Firearms Registry are encouraging people who did not re-license their firearms by the June 2009 cut-off date as required in terms of the FCA, to use this period to apply for the license of any existing firearms they may possess under the old Arms and Ammunition act. In order to do this they need to do as follows; " The applicant will have to complete both the prescribed test on the law (117705) and the practical test (119649,119650.etc) whichever unit standard is relevant (handgun, rifle, shotgun) and apply for a Competency Certificate and the license. ‘
NOTE: The applicant's application will be treated as a new application requiring comprehensive motivation.

Copies of the SAPS circulars pertaining to amnesty hand-ins and license applications are available from the office.

We urge any member or anyone that you might know who has not applied for renewal but wants to keep their firearms to please make application as soon as possible. This is notwithstanding the outcome of the court case between SA Hunters and the CFR.
Rather get the applications in and avoid any complications.

Please note that the police have stated that any firearms handed in voluntarily, will not be eligible for compensation.