PE firearms dealer in court over ‘illegal’ guns
A FIREARMS dealer and hunter was charged in the Port Elizabeth regional court yesterday after a raid on his Westering home led to the discovery of 21 hunting rifles – seven of which were allegedly illegally in his possession.
Registered dealer Christo Janse van Rensburg, 54, was arrested on Tuesday night after police raided his Warbler Street home.
The bust has since led police to warn all firearm owners to adhere to firearm regulations.
On Tuesday night, after his arrest, Janse van Rensburg was released but given a warning to appear in court yesterday morning.
He was charged with seven counts of illegal possession of firearms and again released on warning pending a police investigation.
The bust came after police obtained a search warrant following a tip-off of several firearms being stockpiled at the house.
Police spokeswoman Colonel Priscilla Naidu said: “Of the 21 hunting rifles found inside the house, only 14 were registered in his name while the other seven rifles in the safe were not.”
Naidu said Janse van Rensburg claimed he was storing the firearms for other people.
However, he was unable to produce any legally required supporting documents or storage permits for them.
“This equates to the illegal possession of seven rifles. He was arrested and taken to the police station,” Naidu said. Asked what would happen to the owners of the other seven firearms, she said detectives were following up on claims that the firearms were given to Janse van Rensburg for storage.
“If the investigation shows that the seven firearms were given to him for safekeeping by people he knows, [their] owners will also possibly face prosecution for flouting the laws.” The seven firearms have since been seized. In terms of regulations, for dedicated hunters and sports shooters there is no limit on the number of firearms they can own.
However, the person must prove they are a dedicated member of a hunting or sports organisation and need additional firearms.
“Firearm owners who intend leaving their firearms with other licensed persons for safekeeping must ensure they obtain a safekeeping permit from the designated firearms officer at their nearest police station [beforehand],” Naidu said
Janse van Rensburg is due to appear in the same court on April 20.