22/09/2026
⚠️ Important Firearm Update: Lapsed Licences, Deceased Estates & Lawful Storage ⚠️
CHASA has shared an important update following a 15 September 2026 High Court judgment that brings much-needed clarity to the handling of fi****ms with lapsed licences and fi****ms forming part of deceased estates.
The key principle is clear: a firearm licence regulates possession — it is not the ownership itself. If a licence expires, the firearm does not become ownerless. Likewise, a firearm in a deceased estate remains an asset that must be dealt with through lawful storage, transfer, sale, donation or relicensing processes.
What does this mean in practice?
🔸 A licensed firearm dealer may receive a firearm for safe custody/storage on behalf of the owner or estate.
🔸 A firearm may also be taken into dealer stock if the intention is to sell, donate, transfer or relicense it.
🔸 SAPS may not block these lawful routes simply because of an internal directive, administrative practice or system limitation.
For owners with an expired licence, the existing SAPS fresh-application route remains in place. The firearm must be presented for inspection and verification, and storage requirements still apply while the new application is being processed.
For deceased estates, specific temporary authorisation and safe-custody options may apply, but competency on its own is not enough. The correct permit, authorisation and DFO/storage requirements must be in place.
👉 CHASA’s practical message:
If a licence has lapsed, do not use the firearm and do not simply hand it to a friend or family member. Make use of one of the recognised lawful routes and keep copies of all applications, permits, permissions, estate documents and dealer receipts.
SAPS has 90 days from the judgment to update inconsistent directives and systems, so some practical differences between stations may still occur during the transition. CHASA will continue to update members as implementation instructions become available.
