← Back

Home › Blog › The Firearms Control Amendment Bill: what it means for your licence today

The Firearms Control Amendment Bill: what it means for your licence today

There is a lot of worry and a lot of noise online, so here are the facts, taken from the government's own reports.

Is it law?

No. It is a Bill, which means a proposal. Today your licence and your competency are still governed by the Firearms Control Act of 2000, exactly as before.

Where is the Bill now?

The Civilian Secretariat for Police tabled it at Nedlac (the forum where government, business and labour discuss new laws) in July 2025. Talks at Nedlac continued into March 2026, and the Acting Minister asked for changes to some clauses in February 2026. The Secretariat's latest annual report says the Bill could not be introduced into Parliament as planned. Its new target is to introduce it by the end of 2026 or by March 2027.

Before it can become law it still has to be approved by Cabinet, go through Parliament (where the public can comment), and be signed by the President.

What does it propose?

The government has not yet published the new draft. What we know:

1. The 2021 draft, which was held back after about 118 000 public comments, proposed no licences for self defence, removed private collectors, and limited hunters, sport shooters and ammunition.
2. People who have seen the new draft, including SAGA and the DA, say it allows self defence licences only in exceptional circumstances, limits ammunition to 100 rounds per firearm and gives the Minister more power. We cannot confirm this until the official text is published.

The impact study

Every new Bill needs a socio economic impact study under the Presidency's rules. The Secretariat says its study was signed off in November 2025, but it has not been made public. Civil Society South Africa has formally requested it, and on 30 October 2026 an attorney for the dealers' association wrote an open letter to the President asking for it too.

What should you do today?

1. Nothing changes yet. Your licence stays valid under the current law.
2. Keep renewing on time: hand in your renewal at least 90 days before your licence expires.
3. When the Bill is published for comment, read it and send in your comment. That is how the 2021 draft was stopped.

We will update this page as soon as there is official news. Firearm License Pro South Africa reminds you when your licence and competency are due, tracks your application with SAPS for free, and prepares your application online, ready to hand in at your DFO.