The Professional Firearms Trainers Council (PFTC), the body responsible for private sector firearms training accreditation, has raised concerns with the Minister of Higher Education, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, regarding a new skills programme proposed by the Safety and Security Sector Education and Training Authority (SASSETA).
As far as the PFTC is aware, this programme aims to replace the current professional firearms training standard, Qualification 50480. SASSETA and the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) have not consulted with the PFTC, a major stakeholder in firearm training, including other stakeholders. The PFTC is the current accreditor of firearms training in South Africa and a crucial stakeholder in firearm training.
The PFTC warns that if SASSETA gains control of firearms training and licensing for self-defence and security purposes, it could harm the South African firearms industry. Beyond compromising the quality of training, the move could also threaten public safety and will lead to the loss of over 42 000 jobs at 500 accredited training providers.
Tebogo Kwape, Chairperson of the PFTC, stresses the need for collaboration when adjusting firearms training standards and says industry expertise and input is critical. "Our efforts to engage with SASSETA about the future of our industry have been ignored and this unsanctioned proposal will have serious consequences for public safety," he explains.
Background of Qualification 50480
In 2000, the government instructed the Police, Private Security, Legal and Correctional Services Sector Education and Training Authority (POSLEC SETA) to establish unit standards for firearm qualification. The initial unit standard series, developed without industry input, failed to meet the requirements of the Firearms Control Act. This prompted a collaboration with the broader firearms training industry, resulting in the development of the Qualification 50480, which was adopted by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and remains in place.
POSLEC SETA was renamed SASSETA in 2005, but ongoing delays in certification and verification led to industry frustrations. In response, the PFTC was established in 2013 as the recognised professional body to support SASSETA in maintaining training standards across nearly 500 providers nationwide. The PFTC efficiently fulfilled this role, ensuring the safety required when training the public in the use of firearms.
The need for realignment
In 2016, the QCTO announced plans to deregister many qualifications as part of a shift from unit standards to module-based systems. The PFTC was tasked with realigning the firearm training qualification to meet the new requirements.
Despite initial support from SASSETA, the PFTC was later excluded from critical discussions. The revised qualification, initially submitted in 2017, and again after several changes to the requirements in 2023, remains unassessed by the QCTO.
The current standstill
Since 2017, the PFTC has held numerous roadshows and stakeholder meetings to gather input for the realignment, but SASSETA and QCTO representatives failed to attend. Despite the PFTC’s submission of the revised qualification in May 2023, the QCTO has yet to assess it. The PFTC’s mandate to oversee Qualification 50480 expired on 30 June 2024, and no replacement has been developed or approved. This resulted in a complete standstill for all learners wanting to complete the unit standards required for their job applications or for anyone wanting to license a firearm for self-defence.
"It’s clear that the QCTO intends to remove our quality assurance role and return it to SASSETA, which is under-resourced and inefficient," says Kwape. This has been confirmed by some of our members who attended meetings where SASSETA officials informed them of this decision. This move creates a dangerous void in the industry, as there is no approved qualification to replace Qualification 50480. The lack of support from the training authority and QCTO is likely to lead to lower training standards, which will jeopardise public safety."
Concerns over the new skills programme
The PFTC is particularly worried that the proposed skills programme could result in untrained individuals obtaining firearm licences, which has happened in the past.
"A civilian could potentially licence a firearm without ever firing one, leading to more accidental shootings and poorly handled firearms," warns Kwape. "This programme could flood the market with firearms owned by people who do not know how to use, store or carry them properly. It is a significant risk to public safety."
The PFTC emphasises that the future of firearms training in South Africa must be shaped through collaboration with all relevant experts and stakeholders, as they have already done with the realigned qualification. Without this cooperation, the industry risks a decline in standards that could ultimately endanger the public.
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