Durban - A number of Richards Bay gun owners are about to learn that their firearms certificates are invalid.
Those who obtained their certificates from a particular firearm training academy since 2009 are affected as police have said the academy has been operating illegally.
This comes after a joint operation by the Provincial Crime Intelligence Unit, the Cyber Crime Unit, Empangeni Public Order Policing, the Richards Bay Organised Crime Unit and a verifier from the South African Professional Firearm Training Council, who swooped on the academy on Wednesday.
“During the operation, it was discovered that the academy did not have accreditation to operate such a training facility from Sasseta (Safety and Security Sector Education Training Authority) and PFTA,” police spokesman, Major Thulani Zwane, said.
The documentation seized showed the academy was operating illegally “which renders all the certificates issued to learners dating from 2009 invalid since they were not loaded on the South African Qualifications Authority”, Zwane added.
Once the police had completed their investigations, the suspects may be arrested and charged with fraud and contravention of the Firearms Control Act and the Skills Development Act, he said.
Daily News