Case Law[2025] ZAGPPHC 730South Africa
Gillespie v Chairperson: Firearms Appeal Board and Another (26396/22) [2025] ZAGPPHC 730 (28 July 2025)
Judgment
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# South Africa: North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria
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## Gillespie v Chairperson: Firearms Appeal Board and Another (26396/22) [2025] ZAGPPHC 730 (28 July 2025)
Gillespie v Chairperson: Firearms Appeal Board and Another (26396/22) [2025] ZAGPPHC 730 (28 July 2025)
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sino date 28 July 2025
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IN
THE HIGH COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA
GAUTENG
DIVISION, PRETORIA
CASE
NO: 26396/22
(1)
REPORTABLE: YES/NO
(2)
OF INTEREST TO OTHER JUDGES: YES/NO
(3)
REVISED. NO
DATE:
28/07/2025
SIGNATURE
N V KHUMALO J
In
the matter between:
BRENDAN
GILLESPIE
APPLICANT
and
THE
CHAIRPERSON: FIREARMS APPEAL BOARD
1
ST
RESPONDENT
THE
REGISTRAR OF FIREARMS
2
ND
RESPONDENT
This
judgment was handed down electronically by circulation to the
parties’ representatives by email. The date and time of
hand-down is deemed to be 28 July 2025
JUDGMENT
Khumalo
N V J
Introduction
[1]
I
n this Application, the Applicant Mr Brendan Gillespie, is
seeking an order in the following terms:
1.
Reviewing and setting aside the decision of the 1
st
Respondent taken on 30 December 2021, refusing the Applicant’s
appeal against the Registrar of Firearms’ (National
Commissioner of Polices) refusal to grant the Applicant a licence.
2.
Reviewing and setting aside the decision of the 2
nd
Respondent on 15 September 2021, refusing an application by the
Applicant to possess a firearm.
3.
Applicant’s application for a temporary permit under s 21 of
the Firearms Control Act in respect of Bereta
SL3 with serial number:
S[...] is hereby granted.
4.
The 2
nd
Respondent is ordered to furnish the
Applicant with a license card in respect of the firearm in prayer 3
above within fifteen (15)
court days of the granting of this order.
Parties
[2]
The Applicant, is a United
Kingdom citizen who carries a UK passport with a critical skill
visa
which allows him to work and reside in the country, issued on 23
March 2018. Although he is married to a South African citizen
and has
been residing in the country since 20 July 2011, he has never applied
for a South African citizenship.
[3]
The 1
st
Respondent is the Chairman of the Firearms Appeal
Board (referred to as “the Appeal Board)” and the 2
nd
Respondent is the Registrar of Firearms (who is the National
Commissioner of Registrar of Firearms (“the Registrar”).
Both the Registrar and the Appeal Board hold office under the
Firearms Control Act 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000) (referred to hereafter
only as “the Act”) and cited
nomine officio.
The
Registrar is empowered by the Act to regulate and issue licences for
the possession and use of firearms and the Appeal
Board to deal with
appeals against decisions of the Registrar.
[4]
The Applicant brings his
application for review under the Promotions of Access to
Justice Act
3 of 2000 (PAJA) and or the common law. Under PAJA on the basis that
the impugned decisions refusing his application
for a firearm licence
were materially influenced by an error of fact and law s 6 (2) (d).
Also, in that, irrelevant considerations
were taken into account or
relevant considerations were not considered s 6 (2) (e) (iii).
Lastly, as per heads of argument in that
the Appeal Board’s
refusal amounts to arbitrary action and procedurally unfair in that
it failed to provide adequate reasons
for its decision s 6 (2) (f).
Background
facts
[5]
On 29 December 2020, the Applicant, applied to the Registrar for a
temporary authorisation
for a possession of a firearm for sporting
purposes under s 16 of the Act. The Registrar refused the
Application. The Applicant
was notified of the refusal on 15
September 2021. The reason for the refusal was stated to be:
(1)
“lack of motivation/ not convinced of stated need.”
Comprehensive
decision: “it is clear from your motivation that you need this
firearm for permanent use with a temporary authorisation.
You
failed to provide a temporary nature for which this firearm is
required
.”
[6]
The Applicant appealed to the Appeal Board on 14 October 2021 and his
appeal was refused
in January 2022. The reasons for the refusal were
specified in the Notice as follows:
”
The
mere fact that you were issued with a temporary authorisation more
than once served as an indication that the authorisation
was no
longer for a temporary purpose.
You
seem to be issued with a firearm licence or rather own a firearm
under the disguise of a temporary authorisation of which that
was not
the purpose intended by the legislature through this section. The
provisions of the Act cannot be circumvented by issuing
of temporary
authorisations.”
You
have in anyway not indicated to the Board whether you have a pending
permanent residence application upon acquisition you would
then apply
for a licence in terms of the provisions of this Act.”
[7]
The Applicant alleges in his Founding Affidavit that he indicated in
his application
that “he is essentially applying to obtain a
temporary possession permit for a 12 Gauge over/under sporting
shotgun for dedicated
clay target sport shooting purposes.” He
has a temporary competency to use, handle and possess a shotgun and
does not possess
any other firearms or licenses to possess firearms.
He is a full member and a dedicated sport shooter with SA Wing
Shooters Associations
since 2017. The Association endorsed the
particular firearm to be fit for clay target sport shooting. The
shotgun is suitable for
his sporting purposes. He complies with the
safe keeping requirements of the Act in that he owns a gun safe
installed at his home
in the prescribed manner. He has no criminal
record and has never been declared unfit to possess a firearm in
terms of the
Firearms Control Act.
[1
]
[8]
He further alleges that the proposed period of six months in his
application for a
permit is of a temporary nature and done with a
clear understanding that once the temporary permit expires he will
have to apply
for a new permit. He has, in strict compliance with
s
16
and
s 21
respectively, stated sufficient grounds for the
conferring of the
s 21
temporary authorisation. He indicated that his
Application to the Registrar or a copy thereof is annexed to his
Affidavit as Annexure
“A3.”
[9]
He submitted that he therefore had complied with the provisions of
the Act in applying
for a sporting temporary authorisation for a
firearm, as well as appealing against the refusal for the renewal of
his permit/licence.
[10]
The Applicant submit that the Registrar’s
refusal stands to be overturned, it being patently incorrect
and or
irrational and or unlawful and therefore reviewable in terms of PAJA
or common law as indicated.
[11]
Annexure A3 is an SAPS 523 Form Applicant
completed which is headed an Acknowledgement of Receipt of an
SAPS
Firearm Documentation. The only information stated therein is the
address of the Applicant, the type of firearm, that it is
a s 21
Application for a Beretta SL 3 on a Shotgun, the serial number, the
Applicant’s name, Passport Number and the name
of the
Designated Firearms Officer. The Application with the alleged
information is not attached. The Respondents are however
not
disputing the information that is alleged by the Applicant to be in
the application.
On
the Appeal Board’s decision
[12]
The Applicant argues that the refusal of his appeal by the Appeal
Board has an adverse effect
on his rights and a direct external legal
effect as it impacts directly and immediately on his right to possess
a firearm. This
is in addition to his reliance on 6 (2) (d),
that the decision was materially influenced by an error of law or
fact and 6
(2) (e) (iii) that relevant considerations were not
considered. Furthermore, he alleges that the process was procedurally
unfair
as material considerations were not taken into account. Lastly
on s 6 (2) (e) (vi) that the refusal amounts to arbitrary action
in
that the Appeal Board failed to provide adequate reasons for its
decision.
[13]
In as far as the common law is concerned, he
argues that neither the Appeal Board nor the Registrar properly
brought their mind to bear on consideration of what they were asked
to consider. He regards it striking that the decision of the
Appeal
Board is significantly and materially discrepant from the basis upon
which the Registrar refused his licence.
[14]
In his appeal the Applicant has stated the following as
‘justification for a temporary
application”
[2]
:
“
1.
I am a United Kingdom citizen… with a critical skill visa
issued by the Republic of South Africa allowing me to work and
reside
in South Africa.
2.
I am not a permanent resident of South Africa therefore I cannot
apply for a self- defence firearms licence under
the terms of s 15 of
the Firearms Control Act 2000 (“the Act”).
3.
Therefore, in terms of the Act I must apply for a s 21 Temporary
Firearms Licence
as I have a right under the Act to request a
Firearms Licence, in this case for self- defence
.
4.
There is no other alternative under the Act apart from s 21 for me to
apply for
a Firearms Licence being an individual having a valid visa
but not having permanent residents’ status.
5.
Having taken legal advise,
I have been advised: this is the correct procedure to follow
using s
21 of the Act, and further (ii) there is no alternative to a s 21
Application available to me.
6.
I have been in South Arica for approximately 10 years and have been
previously
issued with two s 21 licenses dated 11 April 2018 and 6
January 2017 both for short guns used for sports shootings (copies
attached).
The guns I have previously owned have been correctly and
legally transferred to new owners as CFR will be able to check on the
Central Registry.
7.
Consequently, my own personal history of gun ownership in South
Africa has been
completely in accordance with the Act in all
respects.
8.
Given that s 21 licences previously been issued to myself in the same
circumstances
(being issued to a non South African permanent
resident) and under which I have complied in all respects with the
Act, then I am
merely requesting a s 21 licence,
pending my
permanent residence application to continue with the legal gun use in
South Africa which I have previously demonstrated.
9.
I reside in the Republic of South Africa at 2[…] C[...],
M[...] Road,
Sunninghill, Johannesburg.
10.
I am married to Caroline Gillespie a South African citizen with ID
No: …..
and we share a home together at the above
residential address and wish to continue to reside in South Africa
for some considerable
time, abiding by all the laws, gun ownership
and others of the country.
11.
I solely wish to be able to protect my wife from harm in the form
of unlawful criminal attacks directed against me at our home or
in
public.
If the CFR consider that this Application is not
appropriate, please advise which other Section of the Act is
appropriate and what
should be used or what other route I must take
to be compliant with the Act. (my emphasis).
[15]
He submits that his permanent residence was not a
consideration that the Registrar took into account nor
was it part of
the reasons he appealed against. Neither was the question of his
permanent residence application nor his intention
to apply for
permanent residence a factor that was communicated to him as a
new
requirement, so he could add that to his application in an appeal. He
argued that the requirement simply adds additional factors
to the
matter that were not a factor before the Licensing Board
.
The
Appeal Board seems to have used a new ground to refuse the appeal
without asking him to provide documents to deal with same
before
making the decision, which is procedurally and materially improper.
[16]
The Appeal Board could not decide the appeal on a different basis to
which he had appealed the
decision of the Registrar. This is directly
contrary to the legal position required by the Common law and PAJA
legislation. The
Appeal did not consider the only reason for the
Registrar to have refused the license application. The ground that
they refused
the appeal was simply materially incorrect in any event.
[17]
He furthermore argued that the Appeal Board’s decision to
refuse him the permit because
“he intended to own a firearm
under the guises (pretext) for which it was not intended” and
that “the provisions
of the act cannot be circumvented by
issuing temporary authorisation” are simply an unsubstantiated
opinion, that has absolutely
no factual/evidential or reasonable
basis. It is based on speculative imaginings bad both in law and
procedure and in breach of
the Act. In relation to the fact that he
had previously obtained a temporary permit and thus he should be
refused another temporary
permit, he argues that, once again that is
simply based speculatively on the unsupported opinion of the decision
maker, without
a shred of evidence to support that conclusion
therefore bad in law and factually incorrect.
[18]
He on that basis argues that the Appeals Boards failed to consider
this matter in a proper manner
with reference to factual evidence
instead of speculation. It had considered the appeal on a different
basis entirely influenced
by an error of law or fact and failed to
consider relevant considerations.
[19]
He in that regard refers to an order of the above
honourable court to indicate that
reasons or motivation not a
requirement under s 16, for a licence for dedicated sports status.
He argues that the Registrar’s refusal was bad in law and the
grounds upon which he lodged the appeal were accordingly proper
in
law.
[20]
Indeed the Applicant’s Application was his third application
for the temporary authorisation
in terms of s 21.
Respondents’
Response
[21]
The Respondents, in their Answering Affidavit deposed to by the
Chairman of the Appeal Board,
dispute that there is any merit in the
appeal and submit that same stands to be dismissed.
[22]
According to the Respondent, the Applicant’s complaint that the
Respondents refused him
the temporary permit which he was granted
twice before, particularly that the Act does not set out time limits
for the s 21 authorisation,
interpreting the provisions of the
Firearms Control Act wrongly
, is factually incorrect and bad in law.
As even though the application is brought in terms of
s 21
, it
should be read together with the following sections which are also
relevant, that is
s 15
and
s 16
and the Regulations, referring to
Regulations 23
and
24
of the
Firearms Control Act and
Regulations
2004.
[23]
The Respondents points out that
s 21
advocates for the issuing of an
authorisation on a temporary basis to non-citizens, and not for a
continuous issuing of a temporary
authorisation even after the period
for which the temporary authorisation was issued has lapsed or has
expired by operation of
the law. The section makes no provision
for a renewal or issuing of several temporary authorisation to one
individual. They
therefore argue that the continued application for a
temporary authorisation notwithstanding having been issued previously
is therefore
not in accordance with the spirit and what was intended
by the legislation. Further that should the Applicant be permitted to
keep
on applying for a temporary authorisation after the lapse or
expiry of the period it has been granted, it would defeat the whole
purpose of
s 21.
[24]
As per the spirit of the Act the Registrar could issue the temporary
authorisation to non-citizen
for such a period and on such conditions
as the Registrar may determine which is what the Registrar had done.
The Applicant was
issued with a temporary authorisation for a period
of a year. However, should the Registrar’s finding be that the
Applicant
‘s intention is to apply for a firearm licence
through s 21 of the Act, he or she will decide to decline the
application
for a temporary authorisation. According to the
Respondents from the Applicant’s application, it is clear that
he applied
for the temporary authorisation under s 21 solely because
he did not qualify for a firearm licence under s 13, however seeking
to enjoy the s 13 benefit despite not being qualified to do so.
[25]
In terms of the Act no licence can be issued to a person who is not
in possession of the relevant
competency certificate
[3]
.
Therefore, the Applicant’s continued possession of a firearm
without a competency certificate and without being a permanent
citizen is in contravention of the Act, in particular Chapter 5
[4]
of the Act as well
as
s 15 and 16.
The
Applicant’s conduct is just an abuse of the purpose of s 21 and
to circumvent s 15 and 16 of the Act of which he does
not qualify.
[26]
They dispute the Applicant’s allegation that his right is being
violated arguing that a
firearm licence or ownership is not a
fundamental right under the bill of rights, but a privilege regulated
by law.
[27]
They further point out that the Applicant did not have to approach
the court for a declaratory
order in prayer 3 especially that seeks
to contradict s 21 by requiring a licence that does not expire, as
the Act is very clear
on what is required in terms of that section.
The temporary authorisation may only be issued for such a period as
may be determined
by the Registrar. The Applicant by applying for the
temporary certificate for the third time, seeks to own or possess the
temporary
authorisation permit permanently, which is not what was
intended by the legislature.
[28]
The fact that authorisation was, notwithstanding, issued in the
past, does not mean that it must be issued again and
illogical for
the Applicant to expect the Respondent to allow him to continue to
commit a wrongful act simply because it was condoned
in the past. The
Respondents entitled to refuse an Application or an appeal where a
case has not been made out for the authorisation
of the temporary
certificate to be issued. Each case to be treated on its own merits.
The Respondents therefore argued that the
Respondents’ decision
to refuse a temporary authorisation is in accordance with the spirit
and purpose of s 21 of the Act.
Therefore, Applicant’s
submission totally flawed, and his interpretation of the Act cannot
be correct.
[29]
The Applicant fails to appreciate that the refusal of the
temporary authorisation is not
only based on his failure to indicate
if he has a pending residence application or not, but it is also
based on his repeated application
for a temporary authorisation
despite having been issued one previously.
By so doing it means he
wanted to be issued or own a firearm licence under the disguise of a
temporary authorisation or alternatively
the temporary authorisation
was no longer of a temporary purpose.
[30]
In addition the Respondents point out that the
Applicant’s appeal to the Appeal Board was fatally
defective as
the Registrar’s decision he sort to appeal against was a
refusal of a temporary authorisation for the purpose
of sporting
activities in terms of s 16 read with s 21. Whilst the appeal was for
a firearm licence for the purpose of self -defence
which is in terms
of s 13. The Appeal Board was therefore called upon to adjudicate the
appeal based on incorrect grounds which
were not considered by the
Registrar. Also, even though the grounds upon which the appeal was
brought were correct, the Applicant
did not qualify for a firearm
licence in terms of s 13
[5]
,
that is for self -defence as he is a non-citizen.
[31]
The Respondents therefore submit that the Applicant’s
application for appeal is fatally
defective and should not be
considered as an appeal of the decision made by the Registrar.
Applicant put before the Appeal Board
an application for a firearm
licence in terms of s 13 read with s 21 of the Act. The Appeal Board
did not decide the Appeal on
a different basis but based on the
information that was presented before it. As a result the Appeal
Board’s refusal of the
Applicants application was fair and
reasonable.
[32]
The Respondents argue that whilst the previous authorisation must
have been issued after the
Applications were found to be in order and
in compliance with the Act at the time, by applying for a temporary
authorisation continuously
or repeatedly, the Applicant was defeating
the whole purpose and intention of s 21. The process followed by the
Respondents was
therefore procedurally fair.
[33]
The Respondents consequently argue that the
decision to refuse the temporary authorisation is in line with
the
spirit and purpose of s 21 and that the Applicant’s submission
and its interpretation of s 21 is totally flawed and incorrect.
The
order attached to its Founding Affidavit is also without any
reference to the citation of the authority.
Outlook
on issue to be decided
[34]
The question of whether the refusal of Applicant’s application
by the Registrar was justified
must be viewed from the context in
which the application was made, the requirements to be complied with
as per the applicable statutory
framework and the powers bestowed on
or discretion to be exercised by the decision maker. The enquiry is
therefore whether or not
there was statutory conformity when the
decision was made,
the purpose sought to be
achieved by the exercise of public power within the authority of the
functionary.
(if in compliance with PAJA and or the common law)
Legal
Framework
[35]
The ownership and use of firearms in South Africa is regulated by the
Act setting out the requirements
for licensing, competency testing,
safe storage, restrictions on usage and the number and types of
firearms that can be owned. The
Act therefore provides for an
overarching control of firearms and enforces accountability to
owners to curb any illegal and
reckless use to avoid any mishap such
gun use can cause. This is done however within the context and in
recognition of the
right to life and the right to security of a
person that includes the right to be free from all forms of violence
from either public
or private sources and of fundamentality of
adequate protection of such rights to the well-being, social and
economic development
of every person.
[6]
[36]
The section that is foremost relevant is s 3 of the Act - it compels
a person to hold a licence
to possess a firearm and reads as follows:
“
[n]o
person may possess a firearm unless he or she holds a licence, permit
or authorisation issued in terms of this Act for that
firearm”.
[37]
Section 6 deals in general terms, with the
Registrar’s overseeing powers to grant the competency
certificates, licences, permits and authorisations. This includes the
power to grant a possession licence. In accordance with s
6 a licence
to possess a firearm may not be issued to a person who is not a
holder of a competency certificate. The section reads:
“
(
1)
The Registrar may issue any competency certificate, licence, permit
or authorisation contemplated in this Act—
(a)
on the receipt of an application contemplated in the prescribed form,
including a full set of fingerprints of the applicant;
and
(b)
if the applicant complies with the applicable requirements of
Act.
(2)
Subject to section 7, no licence may be issued to a person who is not
in possession of the relevant competency certificate.
(3)
Every application for a competency certificate, licence, permit or
authorisation must be accompanied by such information as
may be
prescribed.”
[38]
Additionally in terms of Chapter 5, s 9 (2) (b) of the Act, a
competency certificate can only
be issued to a South African citizen
or a holder of a permanent South African residence permit. The
section reads:
(2)
Where a person has not previously obtained a competency certificate,
a competency certificate may only be issued to such a person
if he or
she-
(a)
…
(b)
is a South African citizen or she or he is a holder of a permanent
South African residence
permit;
[39]
Evidently, only a South African citizen or a holder of a South
African resident permit can be
a holder of a licence to possess a
firearm. Section 21 makes provision for the issuing by the Registrar
of a temporary authorisation
for possession of firearms on
application by any person including non- citizens, subject to
conditions prescribed and imposed and
period determined by the
Registrar. Failure to comply with conditions may result in the
withdrawal of the authorisation The key
word being temporary, the use
thereof is to be as permitted by the Registrar and endorsed on the
authorisation. The relevant
provisions that is s 21 (1), (2)
and (5) read:
Temporary
authorization to possess firearm
(1)
The Registrar may issue a temporary
authorisation to possess a firearm to any person, including a
non-citizen—
(a)
for such period as the Registrar may determine;
and
(b)
subject to such conditions as may be prescribed and imposed by the
Registrar.
[2]
(a) The Registrar may at any time withdraw an
authorisation if any condition
contemplated in subsection (1) (b) is
not complied with.
[S
21(2) substituted by s 16 of Act 28 of 2006 with effect from date to
be proclaimed.]
(3)
The Office of the Central Firearms Register must keep a record
containing such information
as may be prescribed in respect of all
authorisations issued in terms of this section.
(4)
The Registrar must submit an annual report to the Minister containing
such information as
may be prescribed in respect of all
authorisations issued in terms of this section.
(5)
A firearm in respect of which an authorisation has been issued in
terms of this section
may be used only—
(a)
if the Registrar by endorsement on the authorisation, permits such
use; and
(b)
in accordance with such conditions as may be prescribed and imposed
by the Registrar.
[40]
Section 16 provides for the issuing of a license to possess specific
firearms for dedicated
hunting and dedicated sports shooting
purpose. The section reads:
16.
Licence to possess firearm for dedicated hunting and dedicated
sports-shooting -
(1)
A firearm in respect of which a licence may be issued in terms of
this section is any—
(a)
handgun which is not fully automatic;
(b)
rifle or shotgun which is not fully automatic;
(c)
semi-automatic shotgun manufactured to fire no more than five shots
in succession without having
to be reloaded;
(d)
barrel, frame or receiver of a handgun, rifle or shotgun contemplated
in paragraph (a), (b) or (c).
(2)
The Registrar may issue a licence in terms of this section to any
natural person who is a dedicated
hunter or dedicated sports person
if the application is accompanied by a sworn statement or solemn
declaration from the chairperson
of an accredited hunting association
or sports-shooting organisation, or someone delegated in writing by
him or her, stating
that the applicant is a registered member
of that association.
(3)
A firearm in respect of which a licence has been issued in terms of
this section may be used where it
is safe to use the firearm and for
a lawful purpose.
(4)
Every accredited hunting association and sports-shooting organization
must—
(a)
keep a register which contains such information as may be prescribed;
and
(b)
submit an annual report to the Registrar which contains such
information as may be prescribed.
[41]
Furthermore, the general conditions applicable for
temporary authorisation to possess a firearm under s
21 are also
expressly outlined in Chapter 4 Regulations 23
[7]
,
24
[8]
, 25 of the Firearms
Control Regulations, 2004 as pointed out by the Respondents and s 27.
[42]
In terms of Regulation 23 (3) (d), a non-citizen who applies for a
temporary authorisation to
possess a firearm as contemplated in s 21
of the Act must, in addition to the relevant information required by
Regulation 13, submit,
inter alia, a full written motivation
undersigned by the applicant in support of the application. In
accordance with Regulation
24 (2) the
temporary
authorisation will only be valid for the firearm, period and specific
use specified in the temporary authorisation. In
terms of Regulation
24 (5), the Registrar may determine and specify in the temporary
authorisation a specific place where the firearm
may be used. There
is therefore no scope for the statutory deviation.
[43]
In addition, the Registrar may in terms of Regulation 24 (4) further
require prior to the issue
of a temporary authorization, documentary
proof of Applicant’s successful undergoing of the prescribed
training and testing
contemplated in section 9 (q) and (r) which is
the knowledge of the Act and prescribed training and practical tests
regarding the
safe and efficient handling of the firearms. In the
case of a non-citizen hunter or sports person, an affidavit stating
his or
her training and experience in the handling of firearms period
of validity of the temporary authorization.
[44]
Regulation 25
[9]
, (1) provides
for the keeping of the records by the Office of the Central Firearms
Register (OCFR) with regard to the temporary
authorization to
possess a firearm, that consists of the details of the Applicant, the
person who completed the application, the
firearm, ammunition
concerned, the premises and safe storage where the firearm and
ammunition are to be kept .
[45]
The c
conditions
in respect of use of firearms possessed in terms of s 21 of the Act,
are also stipulated in
Regulation
27
[10]
restricting
such use by providing that it should only be used, where it is safe
to be used and for a lawful purpose. Further that
it is to be used in
accordance with the stated purpose of use as reflected in the
application that was submitted in respect of
the permit, and which
must be endorsed on the permit.
Analysis
[46]
The Applicant’s Application before the Registrar was for a s 21
temporary authorisation
for possession of a firearm. As a non-citizen
he could not apply for a licence to possess a firearm however
qualified to apply
for the temporary authorisation which he had
indicated to be for a dedicated clay target sport shooting purposes
under s 16. The
temporary authorisation was therefore to be granted
if the application was found to be compliant with the Act, subject to
such
conditions as the Registrar may prescribe.
[47]
The Applicant had continuously applied for the one-year temporary
authorisation for the same
use or purpose since 2017. It is common
cause that this is the Applicant’s third application for a
temporary authorisation
which was said to be under the same
circumstances. On the occasion of the temporary authorisation being
granted for the third time,
the Applicant would have held such
authorisation since 2017 continuously for consecutive 1-year periods.
The Registrar’s
response was that, he was not convinced by the
Applicant’s stated need. In other words that the authorisation
was required
temporary or regarded to be still temporary and for the
use mentioned. The temporary nature of the authorisation as intended
by
the Act was indeed distorted by the continuous applications,
taking into consideration that Applicant has already been granted the
temporary authorisation twice before, for a period of 1 year in each
instant. The maximum period for which it can be granted.is
one year.
This goes against the spirit of the Act and it is not what was
intended by s 21. As a result, the Registrar’s outlook
and
conclusion that notwithstanding the Applicant stating the purpose for
possession of the firearm to be temporary, that being
tor sport
purposes, it was needed for permanent use with a temporary
authorisation, was accordingly justifiable considering the
facts.
[48]
The Applicant cannot refute the Registrar’s conclusion as he
has also confirmed that he
intended on the expiry of the period of
the third temporary authorisation, to again apply for the fourth
temporary authorisation.
He argues that he is entitled to do so in
terms of the Act. It is an illogical interpretation, which does not
seem to differentiate
from a perpetual authorisation and one that is
meant to apply momentarily or briefly. The Applicant seem set not to
follow the
norm. He in that same vein is now openly seeking in this
review a declaratory order for an indefinite temporary authorisation.
Another situation which is not provided for in the applicable
statute.
[49]
In terms of Regulation 24 the Registrar is required, inter alia, to
authorise, determine and
record accurately the period and specific
use for which the s 21 permit is authorised. The Registrar and the
Court would therefore
be acting contrary to the provisions of the
Act, inter alia Regulation 24, if being aware of the non- compliance,
that the real
intended use or purpose for which the temporary
authorisation for the firearm is sought and period are
indeterminable, to nevertheless
grant the permit. Moreover, a
firearm
in respect of which a temporary authorization in terms of s 21 of the
Act has been issued, may only be used in accordance
with the stated
purpose of use as reflected in the application that was submitted in
respect of the permit and which must be endorsed
on the
authorization.
The refusal of the authorisation was therefore
an appropriate and a rational decision given the circumstances.
[50]
The absence of a motivation in the application was indeed
unsatisfactory as pointed
out by the Registrar, especially
since the continued temporary authorisation applied for was
ostensibly not in line with the alleged
need. The Applicant as a
non-citizen who applies for a temporary authorisation to possess a
firearm as contemplated in section
21 of the Act, is compelled, in
addition to the relevant information required by regulation 13, to
submit a full written motivation
in support of the application.
[11]
The Registrar’s reason for refusal was in keeping with the just
and proper exercise of his statutory powers.
[51]
The allegation that the Registrar ignored the fact that the Applicant
was previously granted
the permit under the same circumstances is
also without merit. The Registrar’s response as mentioned
previously is evidence
that he did consider that Applicant was twice
previously granted the temporary authorisation for the same alleged
intended use,
hence he was dissatisfied with Applicant’s
application that his possession of the firearm could still be
regarded as temporary
and for the purpose as envisaged by the Act.
[52]
The Applicant seems to have indeed misinterpreted
the provision of s 21 in relation to the purpose of the
temporary
authorisation to mean that he can apply for temporary authorisation
for possession of firearms continuously, notwithstanding
that it may
result in a permanent license to possess a firearm, for which he does
not qualify. It is contrary to the applicable
prescripts that
indicate that the temporary authorisation would be valid for the
period and specific use specified in the temporary
authorization.
[53]
The Applicant in addition disputes that motivation in support of the
temporary authorisation
application is required. However, motivation
is clearly a precondition as per provisions of Regulation 23 (3).
[12]
The Applicant’s application was to be considered subject to
compliance with the statutory requirements that includes
Regulation 23 (3) (d). The Regulation stipulates that a non-citizen
who applies for a temporary authorisation to possess a firearm
as
contemplated in s 21 of the Act must, in addition to the relevant
information submit a full written motivation undersigned by
the
applicant in support of the application. The Registrar correctly
queried and found the Applicant’s application to lack
the
required motivation. The Application was inadequate and factually
disingenuous.
On
the Appeal Board’s decision
[54]
On appealing the Registrar’s decision, the Applicant filed his
motivation for the temporary
authorisation, setting out the genuine
intended use of the firearm to be for self-defence. He stated that he
has a right under
the Act to apply for a licence for self-
defence and that his application for the temporary authorisation for
possession
of a firearm for self-defence is pending his permanent
residence application. This was an obvious deviation to what was
stated
in his application to the Registrar. Such a declaration
confirms that the Registrar was correct in his conclusion that
Applicant’s
application was for a permanent purpose although
stated to be for a temporary permit. This was a deliberate misuse of
s 21’s
temporary authorisation for possession of a
firearm.
[55]
The Applicant explained explicitly in motivation for his appeal that
the reason for his application
for a temporary authorisation permit
was because as a non- citizen he did not qualify to apply for a
licence for self-defence.
[13]
Due to his wish to protect the concern he had about unlawful criminal
attacks, he in the meantime applied for the s 21 temporary
permit for
self-defence, pending his permanent residence application. The
Applicant was well aware that he was using s 21 authorisation
to
obtain a s 13 licence, contravening the Act, thus deliberately
mentioned a pending permanent residence application. He also
misrepresented the purpose for seeking the authorisation for his
firearm’s intended use in his application contravening
Regulation 27 as well. In quoting the contents of his motivation for
his appeal, he left out in paragraph 11 the following sentence,
which
reads:
“
I
solely wish to be able to protect my wife from harm in the form of
unlawful criminal attacks directed against me at our home or
in
public. (my emphasis).
[56]
The Applicant, furthermore, appealed to the Appeal Board indicating
that, he was in fact seeking
an authorisation for possession of a
firearm for self-defence for protection purposes. Notwithstanding his
application to the Registrar
being for a temporary authorisation to
possess a firearm for sport shooting purposes in terms of s 16. He
therefore in his application
did not only disguise the nature of the
authorisation alleging it to be temporary in terms of s 21 but also
its purpose misusing
s 16. The Appeal Board’s decision on this
basis cannot be faulted.
[57]
Regulation 27 clearly sets out the conditions applicable in respect
of the use of a firearm possessed
in terms of s 21 which restricts
the use thereof to where it is safe to be used and only for a lawful
purpose, in accordance with
the stated purpose of use as reflected in
the application that was submitted in respect of the permit, which
use must be endorsed
on the permit.
[14]
The Registrar was therefore correct that the Applicant was in actual
act applying for the temporary authorisation for permanent
purpose
use, for which he did not qualify. A incorrect purpose of use would
have been reflected on the authorisation. His appeal
was therefore
wrong fallible refutable
[58]
The Applicant’s criticism that the basis upon which his
application was refused by the
Registrar is discrepant from the
decision of the Appeal Board is also misguided. It is the Applicant’s
appeal to the Board
that was discrepant and indeed fatal to the
relief sought from the Board as argued by the Respondents. He
deviated from the contents
of the original application to the
Registrar, basing his appeal on different grounds and permit,
therefore adding new facts that
were not mentioned in his application
to the Registrar. Conversely the Appeal Board was very prudent in its
reasoning, taking into
consideration the factual aspects covered in
the altered motivation, for finality sake.
[15]
[59]
In terms of Regulation 24 (2) a temporary authorisation will only be
valid for the firearm, period
and specific use specified in the
temporary authorisation. Both the Appeal Board and the Registrar
properly brought their minds
to bear on the facts they were required
to consider in a s 21 application by a non resident, that is, “the
nature of the
permit sought, its specific use and period thereof.”
The decision in both instances was taken appropriately, having had
regard
to all the relevant facts which showed that the s 21 temporary
authorisation was not the one intended but was being misused. The
Applicant actually confirmed on appeal what he had alleged to be an
unsubstantiated conclusion by the Registrar, that the true
purpose or
the specific use of the firearm was disguised, not being the one
stated in the application. The Applicant was aware
that as a
non-citizen he does not qualify for the firearm use he intended
obtaining through a temporary authorisation. His appeal
was therefore
ill advised.
Permanent
resident application
[60]
The issue of a permanent residence application was
indeed neither a consideration or a factor that was taken
into
account by the Registrar, as the Applicant did not mention it in his
application, nor was it part of the reasons the Applicant
appealed
against. Neither was it alleged to have been a factor to the
Registrar to be communicated to be a new requirement to be
considered. The Applicant just added on his own volition on appeal,
indicated that the temporary authorisation for the firearm
he was
applying for was for self-defence. He as a non-citizen did not
qualify for such a licence or use, unless he had permanent
residence.
He therefore to bolster his appeal added that his application was
pending the permanent residence application. The Appeal
Board
appropriately considered it being relevant since he was a
non-resident now mentioning a licence under s 13 for self- defence,
which he did not qualify for unless he has permanent residence. He
deviated from his application, which obligated him to have furnished
further clarification on his status. The Appeal Board’s uphold
the Registrar’s decision was reasonable given the facts
before
it.
[61]
Furthermore, the Applicant is ill-advised in his argument that the
Board wrongly based its decision
that Applicant should be refused
another temporary permit simply on an opinion that Applicant had
previously obtained a temporary
permit, alleging that to be factually
incorrect and bad in law. It is not an opinion but a fact that the
Applicant has confirmed
that this was the Applicant’s third
consecutive application. He in one instance mentions an intention to
again apply at the
expiry of this third one distorting the temporary
aspect and context in which the permit is granted. As pointed out by
the Respondents,
the use intended by the Applicant was of a permanent
nature. This became apparent in his motivation on appeal to the
Board. His
interpretation of the applicable statute that it permits
him to repeatedly apply for the temporary authorisation after
expiration
of each period obviously incorrect. It defeats the whole
purpose of s 21 and against the spirit of s 21 to grant authorisation
temporarily, meaning for the time being, momentarily or
provisionally.
[16]
[62]
In
Minister
of Police and Others v Fidelity Security Services (Pty) Limited,
[17]
the
interpretation of statutes as outlined in various authorities were
enunciated to be guided by the following principles:
‘
(a)
Words in a statute must be given their ordinary grammatical meaning
unless to do so would result in an absurdity.
(b)
This general principle is subject to three interrelated riders: a
statute must be interpreted purposively; the relevant provision
must
be properly contextualised; and the statute must be construed
consistently with the Constitution, meaning in such a way as
to
preserve its constitutional validity.
(c)
Various propositions flow from this general principle and its riders.
Among others, in the case of ambiguity, a meaning that
frustrates the
apparent purpose of the statute or leads to results which are not
businesslike or sensible results should not be
preferred where an
interpretation which avoids these unfortunate consequences is
reasonably possible. The qualification “reasonably
possible”
is a reminder that Judges must guard against the temptation to
substitute what they regard as reasonable, sensible
or businesslike
for the words actually used.
(d)
If reasonably possible, a statute should be interpreted so as to
avoid a lacuna (gap) in the legislative scheme.
[18]
[63]
The Applicant is obviously choosing an interpretation that frustrates
the apparent purpose of
the statute, with results which are not
businesslike or sensible but self-serving and insincere when by an
ordinary interpretation
of the provisions of s 21 and the ancillary
sections, these insensible consequences can be avoided. It extends or
prolongs the
period of temporary authorisation to permanent, contrary
to the objectives of s 21. The continuous or extended temporary
authorisation
and possession of a firearm for self-defence without a
competency certificate as sought by the Applicant could never have
been
intended by the Act. The Applicant’s attempt to interpret
it to a meaning that amounts to abuse of process was correctly
countered.
[64]
The Applicant was furthermore obligated in his application to be
candid about his possession
of his firearm, its intended use or
purpose and period of temporary authorisation for a proper
consideration of his application.
The granting of his application
without him being candid and coherent in his application, would
result in a mockery of the system
and miscarriage of justice. It is a
crime to falsify such information in anyway. The capturing of the
information or data by the
Registrar as required by the Act would
have been inaccurate, frustrating the following up and enforcement on
compliance. As it
turned out that Applicant’s application was
indeed intended for possession of a firearm licence in terms of s 13
under the
disguise of a temporary authorisation, circumventing the
need to comply with the crucial requirements for such possession. The
Registrar was obliged to consider and or prevent the violation or
abuse of the process.
[65]
Furthermore, the Applicant’s allegations that his fundamental
right to own a firearm licence
is violated by the refusal has no
merit. He failed to meet the requirements as prescribed by the Act
and does not qualify. Ownership
of a firearm is nevertheless
not a fundamental right under the Bill of rights in our
Constitution.
[19]
It is a
privilege regulated by law, under the
Firearms Control Act and
Regulations. The purpose of the Act is to: “(a) enhance the
constitutional rights to life and bodily integrity; (b) prevent
the
proliferation of illegally possessed firearms and, by providing for
the removal of those firearms from society and improving
control over
legally possessed firearms, prevent crime involving the use of
firearms.”
[20]
[66]
The right to own a firearm is therefore not guaranteed. The Act
requires compliance
with all the necessary requirements
set out under its provisions prior to issuing a license to
possess a firearm.,
Applicant
has a right to lawfully apply for possession of a firearm upon
exercise of which he had a right to be treated fairly by
the
administrative functionary in the consideration of his application,
following due process.
[21]
The
right is as a result granted under limited circumstances under
provisions of the Act.
[67]
The procedure followed was indeed lawful, fair and proper, aimed at
protecting the integrity
of the process and Act applicable, with all
the relevant factual and legal considerations properly considered by
each of the functionaries
in both processes. Their conclusions accord
with or followed a proper consideration of the relevant facts and the
applicable law,
that has resulted in a rational decision. The
procedure followed complies with the legal position required in terms
of the common
law and PAJA.
[68]
In
Potgieter
v Howie NO and Others
[22]
the
following was stated:
“
A
rationality review is based on an absence of rationality between the
information before the decision maker and which he relied
on to form
the basis of its decision. It does not refer to the rational
connection between reasons given and the decisions but
rather the
information upon which the decision is based.”
[68]
In
Chairman
of the State Tender Board v Digital Voice Processing (Pty) Ltd;
Chairman of the State Tender Board v Sneller Digital (Pty)
Ltd &
Others,
[23]
the
court also emphasised that in order to be rational, a decision must
be based on accurate findings of fact and a correct application
of
the law. Whilst in
Pharmaceutical
Manufacturers
[24]
this
Court stated that:
“
Rationality
in this sense is a minimum threshold requirement applicable to the
exercise of all public power by members of the executive
and other
functionaries. Action that fails to pass this threshold is
inconsistent with the requirements of our Constitution, and
therefore
unlawful.”
The
setting of this standard does not mean that the courts can or should
substitute their opinions as to what is appropriate, for
the opinions
of those in whom the power has been vested. As long as the purpose
sought to be achieved by the exercise of public
power is within the
authority of the functionary, and as long as the functionary’s
decision, viewed objectively, is rational,
a court cannot interfere
with the decision simply because it disagrees with it, or considers
that the power was exercised inappropriately”
[69]
Our courts have further confirmed that the exercise of public power
entails rational decisions
related to the purpose for which the power
was given. In
Pharmaceutical
[25]
the court held that:
“
It
is a requirement of the rule of law that the exercise of public power
by the executive and other functionaries should not be
arbitrary.
Decisions must be rationally related to the purpose for which the
power was given, otherwise they are arbitrary
and inconsistent in
effect with this requirement. It follows that in order to pass
constitutional scrutiny
the
exercise of public power by the executive and other functionaries
must, at least comply with this requirement. If it does not,
it falls
short of the standards demanded by our Constitution for such action.
[
86]
The question whether a decision is rationally related to the purpose
for which the power was given calls for an objective enquiry.
Otherwise a decision that, viewed objectively, is in fact irrational,
might pass muster simply because the person who took it and
mistakenly in good faith believed it to be rational. Such a
conclusion would place form above substance and undermine an
important
constitutional principle.
##
[70]
In addition it is important to point out that, it is not for this
court at the time of review
to re-determine the policy applied and or
processes followed by the decision maker as it was confirmed in In
Bato Star Fishing (Pty) Ltd v Minister of
Environmental Affairs and Tourism and Others,
the
court also cautioned on imposing on the terrain of admnistrative
agencies stating the following
:
“
In
treating the decisions of administrative agencies with the
appropriate respect, a court is recognising the proper role of the
executive within the Constitution. In doing so a court should be
careful not to attribute to itself superior wisdom in relation
to
matters entrusted to other branches of government. A court should
thus give due weight to findings of fact and policy decisions
made by
those with special expertise and experience in the field. The extent
to which a court should give weight to these considerations
will
depend upon the character of the decision itself, as well as on the
identity of the decision-maker. A decision that requires
an
equilibrium to be struck between a range of competing interests or
considerations and which is to be taken by a person
or
institution with specific expertise in that area must be shown
respect by the courts. Often a power will identify a goal to
be
achieved, but will not dictate which route should be followed to
achieve that goal. In such
circumstances
a court should pay due respect to the route selected by the
decision-maker. This does not mean however that where
the decision is
one which will not reasonably result in the achievement of the goal,
or which is not reasonably supported on the
facts or not reasonable
in the light of the reasons given for it, a court may not review that
decision. A court should not rubber-stamp
an unreasonable decision
simply because of the complexity of the decision or the identity of
the decision-maker.
[26]
[71]
Finally in the
Pharmaceuticals
Manufacturers
case
[27]
supra, it was pointed out that rationality as a minimum requirement
for the exercise of public power,
“
does
not mean that the courts can or should substitute their opinions as
to what is appropriate, for the opinions of those in whom
the power
has been vested. As long as the purpose sought to be achieved
by the exercise of public power is within the authority
of the
functionary, and as long as the functionary’s decision, viewed
objectively, is rational, a court cannot interfere
with the decision
simply because it disagrees with it or considers that the power was
exercised inappropriately.”
[72]
In
casu
, the Applicant has failed to show that the Respondents
were irrational in refusing his Application for a temporary
authorisation
cum s 13 licence to possess a firearm or that the
decisions were indeed materially influenced by an error of fact or
law as he
alleged. In my view the Registrar exercised his powers
within the realm of the applicable law and functions entrusted to him
by
the Act, having taken the relevant factors and law into
consideration.
[73]
In pondering on the error of fact, that is misunderstanding or
ignorance of an established and
relevant fact,’
in
Pepcor Retirement Fund and Another v
Financial Services Board and Another
(198/2002)
[2003] ZASCA 56
;
[2003] 3 All SA 21
(SCA);
2003 (6) SA 38
(SCA) (30
May 2003)
where the Registrar was misled on a fact material to
his decision which affected the proper performance of the functions
entrusted
to him, it was pointed out that
the
Registrar was allowed to bring a (self) review against his decision.
At
[39]
reference
was made to the English law i
n
Halsbury’s
Laws of
England
4
th
ed
(2001 reissue) vol 1 (1) para 76 p 164 stating the following:
‘
Errors
of fact
.
In exercising their functions, public bodies evaluate evidence and
reach conclusions of fact. The court will not ordinarily interfere
with the evaluation of evidence or conclusions of fact reached by a
public body properly directing itself in law. The exercise
of
statutory powers on the basis of a mistaken view of the relevant
facts will, however, be quashed where there was no evidence
available
to the decision maker on which, properly directing himself as to the
law, he could reasonably have formed that view.
The
court may also intervene where a body has reached a decision which is
based on a material misunderstanding or error of fact.’
(Emphasis supplied.)
[74]
A further comment in
Pepcor
on the error of fact was as
follows:
[48]
Recognition
of material mistake of fact as a potential ground
of review obviously has its dangers.
It should not be
permitted to be misused in such a way as to blur, far less eliminate,
the fundamental distinction in our law between
two distinct forms of
relief: appeal and review. For example, where both the power to
determine what facts are relevant to the
making of a decision, and
the power to determine whether or not they exist, has been entrusted
to a particular functionary (be
it a person or a body of persons), it
would not be possible to review and set aside its decision merely
because the reviewing court
considers that the functionary was
mistaken either in its assessment of what facts were relevant, or in
concluding that the facts
exist. If it were, there would be no point
in preserving the time-honoured and socially necessary separate and
distinct forms of
relief which the remedies of appeal and review
provide. Of course, these limitations upon a reviewing court’s
power do not
extend to what have come to be known as jurisdictional
facts and, in my view, it will continue to be both necessary and
desirable
to maintain that particular category of fact. I am
therefore, with respect, unable to share the opinion of Professors
Wade and
Forsyth (quoted in para [39] above) that one can safely
‘consign much of the old law about jurisdictional fact, etc, to
well-deserved
oblivion’ if by that statement is meant that the
distinction between appeal and review will be eliminated. In the
present
appeal none of the considerations to which I have referred in
this paragraph of the judgment arise. The Registrar was entitled to
act on the assumption that the correct facts had been placed before
him.
[75]
Neither could the Applicant prove the issue also argued vigorously
that the Appeal Board’s
refusal amounts to an arbitrary action
and procedurally unfair. Contrariwise, the procedure followed by both
the Registrar and
the Appeal Board was, given the circumstances,
lawful and fair. The reasons provided by the Appeal Boad for its
decision are adequate
having properly considered Applicant’s
appeal on all the facts that he raised before the Board. There is no
case made for
the court’s interference with the decisions.
[76]
The Applicant has also failed to make a case for the declaratory
order granting him an uninterrupted
temporary authorisation permit
for possession of the stated firearm and without specifying the use
intended as that would be in
serious contravention of the Act as
already illustrated.
[77]
Under the circumstances the following order is made:
1.
The Application is dismissed with costs
N
V Khumalo
Judge
of the High Court
Gauteng
Division, Pretoria
For
the Applicant:
LA Marks
Instructed
by:
Larry Marks Attorneys
Ref: Mr L Marks
Labus-0619
larry@lam.co.za
For
the Respondents: MG
Senyatsi
State Attorney, Pretoria
advsenyatsi@gmail.com
Instructed
by:
State Attorney, Pretoria
Ref:1997/2022/Z17/NK
WMotsepe@justice.gov.za
Enquiries:WM
Motsepe
[1]
Par
17 of the Founding Affidavit
[2]
See caseline on 001-35 Annexure A5
[3]
Section 6 (2)
[4]
Chapter
5, Section 9 (2) (b) reads – Where a person has not
previously obtained a competency certificate, a
competency
certificate may only be issued to such a person if she or he is a
South African citizen or a holder of a permanent
South African
residence permit.
[5]
Section
13.
Licence to possess firearm for self-defence
(
1)
A firearm in respect of which a licence may be issued in terms of
this section is any—
(a)
shotgun which is not fully or semi-automatic; or
(b)
handgun which is not fully automatic.
(2)
The Registrar may issue a licence under this section to any natural
person who—
(a)
needs a firearm for self-defence; and
(b)
cannot reasonably satisfy that need by means other than the
possession of a firearm.
(3)
No person may hold more than one licence issued in terms of this
section.
(4)
A firearm in respect of which a licence has been issued in terms of
this section may be used where
it is safe to use the firearm and for
a lawful purpose.
[6]
The
Act’s preamble
[7]
Regulation 23 (3) A non-citizen who applies for a temporary
authorisation to possess a firearm as contemplated in section 21
of
the Act must, in addition to the relevant information required by
regulation 13, submit-
(a)
a
certified copy of an official identity document of the applicant or
a certified copy of a valid temporary residence permit as
the case
may be, or that section of a valid passport issued to the applicant
on which his or her identity particulars and the
official issuing
particulars of the passport are reflected;
(b)an official
certificate from the country of citizenship of the applicant
confirming that the applicant has no criminal record:
Provided that
the country issues such certificate.
(c) two written
testimonials by South African citizens confirming that the applicant
is a fit and proper person to possess
a firearm;
(d) a full written
motivation undersigned by the applicant in support of the
application; and
(e) a full set of
fingerprints of the applicant certified by a duly constituted
official authority
[8]
Regulation 24 provides that:
Conditions
applicable to a temporary authorisation to possess a firearm-
(1)
The holder of a
temporary authorisation to possess a firearm issued in terms of
section 21 of the Act must keep the temporary
authorisation wherever
the firearm is located and must at the request of a police official
produce the temporary authorisation
and the firearm to a police
official for inspection.
(2)
The temporary authorisation will only be valid for the firearm and
period and specific use specified in the temporary authorisation
.
(3)
The holder of the temporary authorization may not possess more than
200 cartridges per calibre of firearm stipulated in the
temporary
authorisation unless, for the purpose of sports-shooting, the
Registrar has on good cause shown, specified a larger
quantity in
the temporary authorisation.
(4)
The Registrar may require that a person to whom a temporary
authorisation will be issued, must provide documentary proof of
having successfully undergone the prescribed training and testing
contemplated in section 9 (q) and (r) of the Act prior to the
issuing of the temporary authorisation or in the case of a hunter or
sports person who is a non-citizen, an affidavit stating
his or her
training and experience in the handling of firearms.
[9]
Regulation
25 provides: The Office of the Central Firearms Register must with
regard to a temporary authorization to possess a
firearm keep a
record of the—
(a)
name of the police station where the application was submitted;
(b)
details of the person who completed the application;
(c)
reason if the application was refused;
(d)
details of the applicant and the firearms concerned;
(e)
details of the premises and the safe storage facilities where the
firearms or ammunition, or both will be kept in safe custody;
and
[10]
C
onditions
in respect of use of firearms possessed in terms of s 21 of the Act,
27.
A
firearm in respect of which an authorization in terms of section 21
of the Act has been issued may only be used-
(a)
where it is safe to be used and for a lawful purpose; and
(b)
in accordance with the stated purpose of use as reflected in the
application that was submitted in respect of the permit and which
must be endorsed on the permit
.
[11]
Regulation
23 at Supra
[12]
Regulation 23 (3) a non-citizen who applies for a temporary
authorisation to possess a firearm as contemplated in section 21
of
the Act must, in addition to the relevant information required by
regulation 13, submit —
(a) a certified copy of
an official identity document of the applicant or a certified copy
of a valid temporary residence permit
as the case may be, or that
section of a valid passport issued to the applicant on which his or
her identity particulars and
the official issuing particulars of the
passport are reflected;
(b) an official
certificate from the country of citizenship of the applicant
confirming that the applicant has no criminal record:
Provided that
the country issues such certificate;
(c) two written
testimonials by South African citizens confirming that the applicant
is a fit and proper person to possess a firearm;
(d
) a full written
motivation undersigned by the applicant in support of the
application;
and
(e) a full set of
fingerprints of the applicant certified by a duly constituted
official authority
[13]
Annexure A5 of the Founding Affidavit on paragraph 2, 3, 4, 5 and 11
[14]
See
footnote 10, supra
[15]
[16]
Thesaurus
meaning of temporarily
[17]
[2022] ZACC 16
at para
[18]
In respect of points (a) to (c), reference made to:
Road
Traffic Management Corporation v Waymark Infotech (Pty) Ltd
[2019] ZACC 12
;
2019 (5)
SA 29
(CC);
2019 (6) BCLR 749
(CC) (Waymark) at paras 30-2 and
Cool
Ideas 1186 CC v Hubbard
[2014]
ZACC 16
;
2014 (4) SA 474
(CC);
2014 (8) BCLR 869
(CC) at para 28.
See also Endumeni above n 15 at para 18, a passage frequently cited
with approval in this Court: see, e.g,
Airports
Company South Africa v Big Five Duty Free (Pty) Ltd
[2018] ZACC 33
;
2019 (5)
SA 1
(CC);
2019 (2) BCLR 165
(CC) at para 29 MAJIEDT J and ROGERS AJ
17
[19]
Constitution
of the Republic of South Africa, 1996
[20]
Minister of Safety and Security v South African Hunters and Game
Conservation Association
[2018] ZACC 14
[21]
Section 33 (1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa,
108 of 1996, gives anyone a right to administrative action
that is
procedurally fair
[22]
[2013] ZAGPPHC 313;
2014 (3) SA 336
(GP), para 20
[23]
[2011]
ZASCA 202
;
2012
(2) SA 16
(SCA)
para 40.
[24]
Pharmaceutical
Manufacturers Association of SA and Others; In Re: Ex Parte
Application of President of the RSA and Others
2000]
ZACC 1
(25 February 2000)
above
n 61 at para 90
[25]
At
par 85 & 86
[26]
(CCT
27/03)
[2004] ZACC 15
;
2004 (4) SA 490
(CC);
2004 (7) BCLR 687
(CC)
(12 March 2004)
[27]
at
paras 84-5
sino noindex
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