The South African Police Service (SAPS) has provided updated information on the development of its new Firearms Control Management System (FCMS), including its collaboration with firearms associations, causes of project delays, and its commitments to transparency and stakeholder engagement.
As part of its mandate under the Firearms Control Act, the Central Firearms Registry (CFR) maintains working relationships with organisations across the firearms community. These include sporting, hunting and collector associations, which are responsible for verifying applicants’ credentials when applying for firearm licences under Sections 16 and 17 of the Act. Applicants must provide a certificate from a recognised association confirming their membership and active participation, and in the case of collectors, a categorised list of their collected firearms. The associations also endorse the suitability of a specific firearm for the intended purpose.
Additionally, CFR collaborates with the Professional Firearm Training Council (PFTC), an entity authorised by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO). This partnership allows SAPS access to training records, ensuring that firearm applicants have completed the legally required instruction.
The development of the FCMS has, however, experienced technical delays primarily linked to scope changes during the design phase. According to SAPS, business processes originally planned for future phases were prioritised and brought forward into Release 01 of the system. This adjustment required extensive realignment and additional documentation, including more than 100 work sessions across six major process modules. The complexity and scale of these adjustments extended the timeline beyond initial estimates.
In terms of progress reporting and communication, SAPS is subject to a standing court order issued in August 2019, which compels the Police Ministry to submit bi-annual updates to the Deputy Judge President on the system’s development. These reports are shared with the South African Arms and Ammunition Dealers Association (SAAADA), a key industry body representing dealers, manufacturers, gunsmiths, and import/export licence holders.
Beyond the courtroom reporting requirement, SAPS has established a Project Steering Committee that includes representatives from SAPS Technology Management Systems (TMS), the State Information Technology Agency (SITA), and other relevant internal stakeholders. The FCMS Project Manager provides monthly progress updates to this committee, and any adjustments to the project timeline are communicated through formal Change Request Reports.
To enhance stakeholder involvement, SAPS established a Technical Work Team in September 2023, comprising industry representatives from dealers, manufacturers, and gunsmith associations. This team participates in user requirements workshops and will be involved in the testing of the system before each rollout phase is implemented.
The FCMS rollout will begin with a pilot phase in Gauteng, where the system will be trialled at three police stations. A dedicated learning and training programme is being developed to support the system’s implementation. This will include “train-the-trainer” sessions for SAPS staff in designated firearms offices across provinces, coordinated by the Firearms, Liquor and Second-Hand Goods unit, along with Human Resource Development and TMS divisions.
The broader public and other external stakeholders will be informed of implementation progress through official SAPS communication channels, including its website and other media platforms. The firearms licence application process will also be made available online as part of the new system’s public interface.
SAPS has reiterated its commitment to transparency and consistent engagement with all stakeholders throughout the development and implementation of the FCMS. The police service maintains that the system will not only modernise firearms licensing processes but also strengthen regulatory oversight across the country.