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In General Discussion, Practical Advice

Your Green Card or ID Book Firearm Licence is Valid

September 11, 2017 28 Comments

Your Green Card or ID Book Firearm Licence is Valid

All firearm licences that were valid before the Firearms Control Act of 2000 became law in 2004 are valid. This includes the green laminated card licences, and those which are pasted into ID books.

There are no exceptions to this fact, regardless of whether or not the holder of such a licence bothered to apply for the so-called new white licence cards.

In his North Gauteng High Court ruling on 26 June 2009 Judge Prinsloo was clear and unambiguous, and he made no mention that anyone who had “converted” to the new system were excluded from his decision.

Judge Prinsloo ordered that “all firearm licences contemplated in sub-item 1 of item 1 of schedule of the firearms control Act, Act 6 of 2000 shall be deemed lawful and valid pending final adjudication of the main application.” There have as of yet been no final adjudication, nor are there any indications of such adjudication being imminent or planned, hence the interim order stands as is.

Screen Shot 2017-09-10 at 4.03.11 PM
Judge Prinsloo’s interim order (see attached PDF below article)

The Firearms Control Act Schedule, sub-item 1 of item 1 refers to any licence that was issued in terms of the previous act, the Arms and Ammunition Act 75 of 1969, which are the green card and ID book licences. Thus the ruling applies to all holders of previous licences except in cases where such licences were terminated, cancelled, or surrendered.

Screen Shot 2017-09-10 at 4.03.43 PM
Page 51 of the FCA of 2000 (see attached PDF below article)

To further clarify, the current ongoing court case applies only to expired white card licences, and has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the validity of the old Arms and Ammo Act licences.

If you possess one of these licences, it is perfectly valid and legal. You can carry and use your firearm licensed under the previous act, and you can use your licence to purchase ammunition for the weapon in question. The facility to reprint lost or damaged “green” licences also exists.

Hopefully this puts the issue to rest permanently.

EDIT: the recent Constitutional Court judgement has nothing to do with the old green card and ID book licences. They remain valid.


North Gauteng High Court Order 26 June 2009

Firearms Control Act of 2000

SAPS 273 Form – To Reprint Green Licences


Written by Gideon Joubert

Gideon is owner and editor of Paratus

Arms and Ammunition ActFCAFirearm Control Actfirearm licencegreen card licencesouth africa
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  1. palerider
    •
    6 years ago

    Thank you for again putting this out there for all of us in plain English, especially in view of the amount of confusion that continues to persist around this issue. The reaffirmation that the green licenses remain valid, even where the license holder had opted to “transition” to a new FCA white license is very useful information indeed.

  2. Brittius
    •
    6 years ago

    Reblogged this on .

  3. Moya Solomon Khoarai
    •
    6 years ago

    I have lost my Green card, how and where can I get another Greed card. Please help

    1. gunservant85
      •
      6 years ago

      Hallo Moya, you can apply for a reprint by using the SAPS 273 form: https://lookaside.fbsbx.com/file/sap%20273.pdf?token=AWzTqkrQDHY-KCuVslTKGXQSt07npxqc_bItoew_Lgce1NP57Na6pLWLg6wPI58CvoTVgnIrFUiRE1W-80XnaRVNwf_YzLwm0OGMfgRlBxd27gU6NHYl2yuR1POlRERqmebiaDPSd2qJ9UklprAi-OoW

      1. Seth
        •
        6 years ago

        Hi Gideon. This link doesn’t seem to work for me so I went to the firearms forms section on the SAPS website, but there is no 273 form? I’ll pop in to a police station to ask for one but will appreciate any other links for the form you might have?

        1. gunservant85
          •
          6 years ago

          I will see what I can do, and link it into the article today.

      2. gunservant85
        •
        6 years ago

        See documents at the bottom of the article.

      3. Moya Solomon Khoarai
        •
        6 years ago

        hi! I tried to open the link but it does not open. I suggest that it will be better to send the 273 form so that i can be able to download it.

  4. Cecil Hodi
    •
    6 years ago

    This is a realief to people like us. I’m really thankful to those who stood up for us and the judiciary who decided without fear or favour. Keep up the good job.

  5. Seth
    •
    6 years ago

    Hi Gideon/Everyone

    If you are still battling, I subsequently found the document under the File section of the GOSA Facebook page.

  6. Jim Stockley
    •
    6 years ago

    Moyo, the link that was posted by Gideon (thanks) works fine. Try it like this:
    https://gunservantdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/sap-273.pdf

  7. Willie
    •
    6 years ago

    The form is gibberish. Is it possible to rescan it without using an OCR function?

  8. Another 5 Undying Gun Ownership Myths – gunservant.com
    •
    6 years ago

    […] recently did a write-up explaining Judge Bill Prinsloo’s 2009 North Gauteng High Court ruling, so I do not feel that it […]

  9. Jean-Louie
    •
    5 years ago

    I want to go reprint my green card.I have been informed that it could take between 6 month & 2 years.Is this a joke?

  10. James
    •
    5 years ago

    Thanks for the clarification!

  11. Andrew
    •
    5 years ago

    After the recent ruling in the Con Court 7 June 2018 is this article still valid? Are green card gun licenses still valid? Appreciate that clarification please.

  12. Petru
    •
    5 years ago

    After the recent ruling in the Con Court 7 June 2018 is this article still valid? Are green card gun licenses still valid? Appreciate that clarification please.

  13. Andre
    •
    5 years ago

    I am still not sure about my own situation. My one firearm licence (new white one) expired the Friday and I went to renew on the Monday which they refused to do. Told me to surrender the firearm. I have a valid competency card as well. BUT I also have a green card for the license which expired!! Advice please.

  14. Lesley Goliath
    •
    5 years ago

    I got my green card license in 1995,but I would like to know if if my competence certificate is still valid

  15. Nico
    •
    5 years ago

    HI

    Is the green card still valid after the con court case.

    Thanks

  16. Ali adams
    •
    5 years ago

    I lost my green card my white license is expired can i have my green card reprited via the 273 form with saps thanks in advance for jte advice

  17. EC
    •
    5 years ago

    I would like to know if I can hand in the completed SAP273 for a re-print of my green licence at any police station, or should it also be at the station in my living area (which is situated 30km from my home). There is a police station 2km from my place of work, can I hand it in there?

  18. Ngwanya Mthintso
    •
    4 years ago

    I happened to have lost my green card.when I submitted my Saps 273 form to police station but is rejected. All they do they drive me to competence certificate as if I’m applying for white card.Police seemed to be reluctant to help people get the firearm licences. Thanx for the clarity.

  19. Lesley
    •
    4 years ago

    So if my gun licence is in my id book its then still valid?

  20. Pets Blog
    •
    4 years ago

    Thank you for the good writeup. It actually was once a entertainment account it.
    Glance complex to more brought agreeable from you! However, how could
    we keep in touch?

  21. Selvin
    •
    3 years ago

    I have a green and expired 2017 license .Do u think it is safe to handover my firearm to renew my license with the new system.

  22. Nishaan Gobind
    •
    3 years ago

    Hi, I’ve lost my green card licence and need to know whether I can apply for a duplicate using the Saps 273 form.

  23. Herbert Kowane
    •
    2 years ago

    I have a old blue card firearm license so they still valid ?

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