A section 15 licence under the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000 authorises possession of a firearm for occasional hunting and occasional sports shooting. It is the section for someone who hunts or shoots competitively from time to time without doing so as a dedicated pursuit.
It sits between section 13, which licenses a single firearm for self-defence, and section 16, which is for dedicated hunters and dedicated sports shooters and requires accredited association membership. Choosing correctly between them matters, because the conditions and the number of firearms differ.
Business Requirements at a Glance
The baseline requirements apply, with the section 15 purpose on top.
- Be at least 21 years old, unless special circumstances are accepted
- Be a South African citizen or hold permanent residence
- Hold a valid competency certificate for the firearm type concerned
- Be a fit and proper person, of stable mental condition and not inclined to violence
- Have prescribed safe custody in place
- Demonstrate a genuine purpose of occasional hunting or occasional sports shooting
- Provide supporting proof of that activity, commonly including membership of a hunting or shooting association
Registration and Legal Requirements
A competency certificate comes first. Under section 9 of the Act you cannot hold a firearm licence without one. It requires prescribed training and testing through an accredited provider, covering the law and safe handling for the firearm type concerned, plus a background and criminal record check. Applications are made at your local police station’s designated firearms officer.
What distinguishes section 15 from section 16. Section 15 is for occasional participation. Section 16 is for a dedicated hunter or dedicated sports shooter, which requires accreditation through an association accredited by the Registrar, and which carries different conditions.
A person who hunts a few times a year applies under section 15. A person whose hunting or competitive shooting is a serious and regular pursuit, and who wants to hold more firearms or particular types, generally applies under section 16 through an accredited association.
Section 15 permits more than one firearm, subject to the conditions of the Act and to your motivation supporting each one. It does not mean an unlimited number, and each firearm must be justified.
The types of firearm that may be licensed under this section are restricted by the Act. Confirm what may be licensed under section 15 with SAPS or an accredited association before buying anything.
The Act allows a person to be declared unfit to possess a firearm in defined circumstances, including certain convictions, a protection order under the Domestic Violence Act, and findings of a court or the Registrar. A declaration means existing licences are cancelled and firearms surrendered.
Documents and Ownership Information Required
Applications are made in person at the designated firearms officer at your local police station.
- Completed prescribed application form for a section 15 licence
- Original South African ID and a certified copy
- Your competency certificate for the firearm type
- Proof of residential address
- Identity photographs as prescribed
- Fingerprints, taken at the police station
- Proof of the prescribed safe, with its details
- A written motivation setting out your hunting or sports shooting activity
- Proof of membership of a hunting or shooting association, where required
- Proof of participation — permits, competition records or club records, where available
- Proof of payment of the prescribed fee
- The firearm’s make, model, calibre and serial number
Tax, Licence and Compliance Requirements
The motivation carries the application. A section 15 application is refused more often for a weak motivation than for anything else. Set out concretely what you hunt or shoot, how often, where, and why the specific firearm applied for is appropriate to it.
Generic motivations copied from templates are recognisable and are refused. So are motivations that do not match the section — describing a self-defence need in a section 15 application is a contradiction.
Validity and renewal. Section 15 licences run for a longer period than self-defence licences, but the renewal deadline is what matters. A renewal application must be lodged before expiry within the period the regulations prescribe, and an expired licence means unlawful possession. Confirm the current period with SAPS and diarise it.
Safe custody is a legal obligation, not a recommendation. Firearms must be stored in a safe or strongroom meeting the prescribed standard when not under your immediate control, and failure to do so is an offence in itself. Losing a firearm through negligent storage carries serious consequences, including possible declaration as unfit to possess a firearm.
Ammunition possession is also regulated, with limits attaching to the licence held. Confirm what applies to yours.
Process, Deadlines and Ongoing Obligations
Processing takes time. Apply well ahead of any hunting season you are planning around, and do not buy a firearm before the licence is granted.
If refused, you are entitled to reasons and there is an appeal to the Appeal Board under the Act, with a deadline. Act within it if you intend to appeal.
- Confirm section 15 is the right section for your actual activity
- Get the competency certificate for the correct firearm type first
- Join a hunting or shooting association and build a participation record
- Install a compliant safe before applying
- Write a specific, substantiated motivation for each firearm
- Confirm what firearm types may be licensed under section 15
- Diarise the renewal deadline the day the licence is issued
- Confirm current periods, fees and forms with SAPS
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between section 15 and section 16?
Section 15 is for occasional hunting and sports shooting. Section 16 is for dedicated hunters and dedicated sports shooters and requires accreditation through an association accredited by the Registrar.
How many firearms may I hold under section 15?
More than one, subject to the Act’s conditions and to a motivation supporting each firearm. It is not an unlimited number.
Do I need to belong to an association?
Proof of your hunting or shooting activity is generally required, and association membership is the usual way of showing it. Confirm what SAPS currently requires.
Why are these applications refused?
Most often for a weak or generic motivation, or for a motivation that does not match the section applied under. Be specific about your actual activity.
Licence conditions, permitted firearm types, validity periods, renewal deadlines and fees are set in the Firearms Control Act and its regulations and are amended. Confirm current requirements with the South African Police Service.