Dedicated hunter and sport-shooter status explained

Dedicated status means a SAPS-accredited hunting or sport-shooting association recognises you as a dedicated hunter or sports shooter. You need it for a section 16 licence.

What it allows

• Licences under section 16, with no number limit in the Act (each still needs a motivation).
• Semi-automatic rifles, and semi-automatic shotguns that hold five shots or fewer.
• No 200-round ammunition limit per firearm, and no 2,400-primer reloading limit (sections 91 and 93). Read about ammunition limits.
• 10-year licences.

How to get it

1. Join a SAPS-accredited association, such as a hunting association or a sport-shooting federation.
2. Do its dedicated status course. The law requires a training course before an association can register you as dedicated (regulation 4).
3. Get your dedicated status certificate.
4. When you apply for a section 16 licence, the association gives you a sworn statement that you’re a registered dedicated member (section 16(2)). Most also give a motivation or endorsement letter for each firearm.

How to keep it

Associations must check regularly that their dedicated members actually take part, and keep records of their activities (regulation 4). The Act doesn’t set a number, so each association sets its own rules. Some examples:

• Natshoot: two hunting or sport-shooting activities a year, on separate days, plus paid-up membership (2025 rules).
• Some associations ask for three activities a year.
• CTSASA (clay target) asks for 200 competition targets a year for its dedicated sport category.

Log every hunt and match with your association as you go, and keep your membership paid. If you lose dedicated status, you go back to being an occasional hunter or shooter. Associations must report terminated members to SAPS.