Firearms law in South Africa
Last reviewed: 2026-05-06 · editorial review
South Africa’s Firearms Control Act 2000 (FCA) replaced the older Arms and Ammunition Act. Anyone wanting to own a firearm must hold a Competency Certificate from SAPS (South African Police Service), then apply for a separate licence per firearm and per use-case (self-defence, hunting, sport, business, dedicated hunter, etc.).
Self-defence is a recognised “reason” here, but typically limits the holder to one handgun. Dedicated Hunter and Dedicated Sportsperson statuses (issued by accredited associations) allow more firearms and longer renewal cycles.
Key laws
- Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000 + Regulations.
- SAPS Central Firearms Register (CFR) — issues licences.
Licences in South Africa
- Competency Certificate · 21+ · training required
- Self-defence licence (Section 13) · 21+ · training required
- Hunting / Sport licence (Sec 15/16) · 21+ · training required
- Business licence (Section 17) · 25+ · training required
Licence → what you can own
Quick-glance matrix. Click a licence for the full conditions.
| Licence | Handgun (self-defence) | Handgun (sport) | Rifle / shotgun for hunting or sport | Semi-auto centre-fire rifle | Firearm in business |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Competency Certificate | ✗ | ✗ | Competency only — actual firearm needs a separate Section licence | ✗ | ✗ |
| Self-defence licence (Section 13) | One firearm only | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Hunting / Sport licence (Sec 15/16) | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | Dedicated Hunter / Sportsperson only | ✗ |
| Business licence (Section 17) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
Key: ✓ permitted (often with conditions) · ✗ not permitted under this licence · — class is prohibited in South Africa
Province laws
Sources
This is general information, not legal advice. Always check with your local firearms registry or a lawyer for your specific situation.