With the revisiting of the gun control debate both in South Africa following a high-profile shooting incident and elsewhere, it is instructive to assess the impact of stricter gun control applied in South Africa through the Firearms Control Act (FCA) of 2000. In South Africa, the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000 regulates the possession of firearms by civilians.
The South African government continues to codify new firearm-related laws, with the goal of protecting the general population. The regulation of firearms forms part of the mandate of the Department of Police, which is led by the Minister of Police.
The FCA was implemented in response to the prominent role of firearms in violent crime, identified by the National Crime Prevention Strategy adopted in 1996, active lobbying by an alliance of nongovernment organizations and opinion leaders, and a groundswell of popular support. It provided a complete overhaul of the existing firearms-control regime and was unambiguous in its intent to reduce the number of firearms in the country, particularly those in civilian hands. In 2000, South Africa had one of the highest homicide rates in the world.
The stricter licensing conditions under the Firearms Control Act No. 60 of 2000 were part of a broader strategy to reduce the number of guns in circulation, and there was a firearm-access gradient between the FCA being passed in 2000 and its full implementation in 2004. The period was characterized by firearm amnesties and hand-ins, in which legal and illegal guns were recovered by the authorities, more rigorous application of existing licensing conditions, and the destruction of surplus and illegal weapons.
The South African Defense Force destroyed an estimated 270 000 weapons between January 1998 and May 2001, and the police destroyed 30 000 in 2001. It was also notable that there was a 75% increase in the number of firearms recovered by the police in 2003 compared with the previous year (i.e., from 20 000 weapons confiscated and recovered in 2002 to 35 000 in 2003). This coincides with the period in which the decline in firearm homicide became evident.
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Sunday Debate | Gun Control | South Africa (2019)
The aim of a study was to investigate a decrease in homicide rates over 2001 to 2005 and to assess whether this decrease was specific to firearm homicide or other factors associated with homicide risk. The study hypothesized there would be a significant decrease in firearm homicide specifically attributed to the increasingly stricter gun control coinciding with the phased implementation of the FCA that was fully implemented by 2004.
Key Aspects of the Firearms Control Act
The Firearms Control Act is designed to make the process of owning a firearm in South Africa legally and responsibly more clear to both the user and the police. At the same time the law attempts to reduce the likelihood of weapons moving from the legal trade into the illicit market. The Act will be a challenge to implement as it establishes new restrictions on ownership, introduces limits on the numbers of weapons that may be owned, and requires renewal of licenses and competency certificates.
As with all legislation, the success of the Act will rely on how it is applied, and both government and civil society have a role in monitoring the implementation of the Act. In addition, government must continue to pursue the reduction of illicit firearms in South Africa, acting forcefully to remove these weapons and penalise those found using them.
Other areas that need attention are the loss of state-owned firearms from the police and SANDF, and the continuing efforts to improve policing and public security so that the factors that drive people to possess weapons for self-defence are reduced.
Licensing and Competency
In 2010, the process was undergoing review, as the South African Police Service (SAPS) was not able to process competency certifications, new licenses, or renewal of existing licenses in a timely manner. The Central Firearms Registry implemented a turnaround strategy that has significantly improved the processing period of new licences.
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There are 4 firearm types that a citizen can do a competency certificate for: Handguns, Shotguns, Semi-automatic rifles and Bolt action rifles. The competency itself consists of 2 parts, the exams and the proficiency shoot. There are 2 exams that need to be completed. The second is an exam that tests the proficiency of the learner for the firearm they are applying for.
The exams are usually broken down into 2 parts, an open book exam where the learner is free to read the provided material and a closed book exam done at an accredited training provider or the Professional Firearm Training Council. The proficiency shoot is where the learner actually fires the firearm at a target and is required to hit the target with the required number of shots without missing.
Restrictions and Permissions
Semi-automatic firearms are not prohibited under law. However, semi-automatic long guns are only permitted with a business licence, restricted firearms licence for self-defence, and dedicated hunting and shooting licences. Handguns of all firing actions (except fully automatic) are legal under all licences. Carrying legally owned firearms in South Africa is legal under all licence types and requires no additional permit.
Firearm-Free Zones
The Firearms Control Act of 2000 does allow for firearm-free zones, but this must not be confused with the mandate of the CAPPVA of 1985, which has effectively made all government buildings and vehicles firearm-free by law without the input of the FCA which came about almost two decades later.
It is worth noting the difference between Gun Free Zones (GFZ) and a Firearm Free Zones (FFZ). GFZ's are more voluntary and according to Gun Free SA "It is a civil offence to contravene the Gun Free Zone status of a premises, which means that anyone found breaking that law can be prosecuted under the laws that prohibit trespassing. Signs tell people entering this type of Gun Free Zone that the space is gun free. People entering this space are not asked to declare if they are carrying a gun and are not searched for a gun.
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FFZ's on the other hand are enforced by law and carry severe penalties of up to 25 years in prison.
Proposed Ban on "Blank" Guns
In May 2025, the South African Department of Trade, Industry and Competition gazetted (tabled) draft proposals to ban the import of “blank” guns into South Africa, as they have become common features in criminal activity. Blank guns are realistic and functional recreations of firearms, that are designed to shoot non-lethal rounds, known as “blanks”.
The rise in blank guns being used in crimes is as a result of their realistic appearance, making them effective tools for intimidating victims. They are also much easier to acquire, and have historically not come under close scrutiny. The Department stated that what makes policing of blank guns difficult is the fact that they are not currently fully regulated in terms of the Firearms Control Act, 2000, especially when it comes to the possession of the guns.
Impact of the Firearms Control Act
The analysis suggests that after adjusting for the effects of other covariates, the significant decline in homicide across 5 South African cities from 2001 to 2005 was attributable primarily to the decline in firearm homicide.
Year-on-year comparison indicated that there was a consistent decline in firearm homicide rates. Nonfirearm homicides indicated a more moderate downward trend. Firearm homicide rates were significantly higher among youths and young adults aged 15 to 44 years and among males.
A second generalized linear model fitted with an interaction term for year of death and type of homicide indicated that, adjusting for other covariates, the decline in homicide rates from 2001 was far more pronounced for firearm homicide than for nonfirearm homicide, with a year-on-year estimated firearm homicide rate ratio of 0.864 (95% CI = 0.848, 0.880), representing a decrease of 13.6% per annum.
The significant decline in firearm homicide from 2001 has altered the ratio of firearm to nonfirearm homicide rates. At the beginning of the study period, firearm homicide rates were significantly higher than nonfirearm rates.
Assuming that without the imposition of stricter gun control the firearm homicide rate would have followed the same trajectory as the nonfirearm homicide rate (i.e., a small decrease of 2.4% per annum), the modeled homicide rates suggest that, instead, 4585 (95% CI = 4427, 4723) lives were saved across the 5 cities from 2001 to 2005.
Certainly the strength of the estimated association, a 13.6% decrease year-on-year in firearm homicide rates from 2001 to 2005, suggests a dramatically significant decrease in firearm homicide that was explained neither by other covariates included in the model, nor a decline in homicide more generally.
Reasons for the more modest decrease in nonfirearm homicide remain unclear. Police attribute decreases in violent crimes to greater cooperation between police and community policing forums, increased police visibility, and higher arrest rates for robbers.
There is also the possibility that the decrease may reflect the gradual stabilization in South African society, both politically following the end of apartheid, and socially with the slowing rate of urbanization.
Proposed Amendments to the Firearms Control Act
The proposed amendments seek to reduce the number of new licensed firearms in circulation. South Africa already has relatively strict firearms control legislation. The current Act requires firearm license applicants to undergo detailed background checks and pass a firearm competency test. In addition, only those 21 years or older can apply for a license.
The proposed amendments have once again stirred public debate, particularly about whether tighter laws do actually reduce firearm violence. Groups lobbying for tighter controls, such as Gun Free South Africa, argue that the Firearms Act has been a game-changer for reducing firearm violence in South Africa. They point to the fact that the firearm murder rate declined by 40% between 1998 and 2007.
Firearms Control Amendment Bill (FCAB)
On 21 May 2021, the Firearms Control Amendment Bill (FCAB) was published in the Government Gazette for public comment. The FCAB shocked many firearm owners by including several amendments banning the use of firearms for self-defence. The Minister of Police said the amendments were necessary and that arming citizens would not reduce the high crime rate.
The FCAB includes a section dealing specifically with the events leading up to the drafting of the Bill. The Minister of Police appointed the Firearms Committee to review existing firearm legislation. It concluded that gun violence contributed significantly to the number of murders in South Africa. As a result, the FCAB states that "in order to address the reduction of gun deaths and gun violence, firearm licences for self-defence purposes will not be permitted".
Whereas the FCA focuses on self-defence and firearms control, the FCAB concentrates on regional and international firearm regulations as well as the possible dangers related to firearms control and state security. There is a shift from protecting and realising the privileges of lawfully armed citizens to acknowledging the duty of the state to protect its citizens and identifying the problems related to illegally obtained firearms.
The Debate Around Self-Defense
The possible enactment of the FCAB would prevent firearm owners from using a firearm for self-defence purposes. This puts citizens who want to protect themselves against criminals carrying firearms in a defenceless position. The right to life is a fundamental human right provided for in our Constitution, and every person must be permitted to defend that right. The FCAB restricts and violates this right.
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