South African Firearm Permitting Process

I'm sure some of you have seen something different. However Since the 9-11 situation and the requirement to go through the SAP's (South African Police) office for the permits, here is what I have seen 100% of the time, Hunters don’t give them self enough time to get through the process. You will need to give your self-a minimum of 3 hours lay over in Joberg or Cape Town to get through this.
When you arrive out of the immigration line, you will go get your luggage. During this short wait to find your things, the line is already growing at the SAP's office. However as you look over there, you see no guns yet! A bit more time goes by and you see the line of hunters is even longer. While you're waiting for your suitcase to come through the turn style, you see quite a few more hunters searching for their luggage. Finally you get your suitcase, put it on the cart and walk over to get in the line to declare your firearms. The cart filled with rifles shows up and they start matching them up with the people in line. The first guy in line has not received his gun case yet, but the guy at the end of the line does get his. He cannot however get into the SAP's office because it's not his turn (Hang-up #1)
When the first guy in line finally gets his gun case he walks into the tiny little office and presents it to the officer. He opens the case and the police ask for his ammo, passport, etc. He says "well my buddy is out getting the bags and my ammo is in the suitcase". (Hang-up #2)
Few if any of the people in line know what's going on inside this office unless they have already done this once before. They are tired and jet lagged, When the first guy in line is finally done and walks out, the next guy moves in with his guns. He cannot find his keys, return flight coupon, phone number of the outfitter, the outfitters address, 4457 form, etc. (Hang-up #3 through ????)
The next guy comes in and only brings his gun case when they ask for the ammo he has to leave the office and empty his suitcase out on the floor of the airport. With dozens of people walking by stepping over his cloths and other crap while he is digging for his box of ammo. Then he has to stuff everything back into his case and of course it won't all fit, so now he's in a panic because everyone is staring at him and all of his crap and he is holding up the other 20 anxious people in line that are afraid they might miss the next flight.
Now for those who have already filled out the SAP 520 form, it’s a good reference, but to this date I have never seen one accepted a single time, NOT ONCE!
You see the SAP's office has no copy machine. They have a tablet with individual numbered forms, and use carbon paper between the various copies. They must have an original that is an exact match to yours. This will be your "gun permit" while in RSA. While you sit there and show them everything they ask for which includes:
· return plane ticket
· passport
· proof of gun ownership (4457 which you get from the U.S. customs office)
· address of outfitter ( Letter of Invitation )
· phone number of the outfitter (no cell phones, and they know all the prefix numbers)
· ammo
· gun (keep the keys to your case handy)
Once you sit and provide these few things, you will be out of the SAP office in under 3 minutes. No matter how well you are prepared, the length of time to get through it all depends upon the folks who are in line in front of you. That pre filled form might make you feel better, but they don't use them. When I asked why they don't use the ones I already filled out, the reply was that they are not numbered from their logbook. They must have the originals bound in this log book which are then filed by date should they need to be looked up. The loose copies are not acceptable. I’m not telling you not to try it but I have never heard of anyone getting through with one pre-filled out.
The biggest struggle with the process is that the majority of outfitters do not go through this process and cannot assist you much with what to expect. PHASA has made some improvements, but they are not really all that involved with it now or even trying to change it to make it a bit smoother. On occasion there is a PHASA guy there helping to get the folks in line to realize what they need. The vast majority of those arriving hunters have absolutely no idea what they need and don't have address's or phone numbers of the outfitters. Far too many hunters come to RSA with no form 4457 or any proof of ownership. There is so little guidance given to these hunters. There is a lot more to booking a hunt or being an outfitter then simply giving you a place to sleep and due some big game hunting!
Now with this 4457 form I have seen so many times people leaving from Detroit to Atlanta then on to Joberg. Well when they leave Detroit they didn’t get proof of owner ship of their firearm and had there luggage moved right on to Joberg. The problem with is they didn’t clear their firearm through customs (form4457) because you don’t go through customs till you hit South Africa. So what you need to do is either before you leave on your trip go to your nearest U.S. customs office and get your form there. Or when you hit Detroit give your self enough time to go down to the customs office there or what ever airport you are leaving out of and get your form that way. Because what will happen is if you didn’t do this before you get to South Africa YOU WONT GET YOUR FIREARM. They will hold it till you leave their country. And you can not retrieve your firearm in Atlanta to do this as your luggage is already on a straight through.

If you still have questions, visit the South African Police website. www.saps.gov.za
Here you will click on Firearms on the left side of the page once page opens up then scroll down to Legislation Forms then click on the English tab when that page opens scroll down to SAPS 520.

Or the U.S. Customs website at www.customs.treas.gov/linkhandler/cgov/toolbox/forms/4457.ctt/cbp_4457.pdf