Trigger Therapy SA

15/10/2026

FI****MS AND PUBLIC UNREST: KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

A Public Safety Advisory from the Professional Fi***rm Trainers Council (PFTC)

Recent incidents of public unrest in KwaZulu-Natal have once again raised an important question: When may a fi***rm legally be used during riots, looting or violent public disturbances?

The PFTC wishes to remind all fi***rm owners that possessing a licensed fi***rm does not automatically grant the right to use it against individuals participating in public unrest.

What does South African law say?

Under South African law, the use of potentially deadly force in private defence is subject to strict legal requirements.

* Protection of life: Deadly force may be justified where a person faces an unlawful attack posing an immediate threat of death or serious bodily harm, provided the force used is necessary and reasonably proportionate to the threat.
* Protection of property: Theft, looting, vandalism or damage to property does not, on its own, justify shooting a perpetrator.
* Immediate threat: Private defence generally requires an attack that has commenced or is immediately threatening. A possible future threat or retaliation for an earlier incident is not sufficient.
* Warning shots: Firing warning shots is not automatically lawful and may expose the fi***rm owner to criminal liability.
* Responsibility for every shot: Fi***rm owners remain accountable for their actions, including injuries or deaths resulting from unlawful or negligent fi***rm use.

What are the possible consequences?

The unlawful discharge or use of a fi***rm during public unrest may result in serious criminal charges, including murder, attempted murder or other fi***rm-related offences, depending on the circumstances.

Civil claims for damages, the loss of fi***rm licences and declarations of unfitness to possess fi***rms may also follow.

The PFTC’s position

A fi***rm is a last resort in the defence of life, not a tool for crowd control, intimidation, punishment or the protection of property alone.

We encourage all fi***rm owners and security personnel to remain calm, avoid unnecessary confrontation, prioritise personal safety and understand the legal principles governing private defence.

Responsible fi***rm ownership requires more than technical proficiency. It demands sound judgement, restraint and a thorough understanding of the law.

REMEMBER: The fact that you are legally armed does not mean that every use of your fi***rm will be lawful.

Professional Fi***rm Trainers Council (PFTC)
Promoting responsible fi***rm ownership, professional training and legal compliance.

25/09/2026

🎯 A NEW CHAPTER FOR TRIGGER THERAPY! 🎯

We’re incredibly excited to finally have a space to call our own and our doors are officially OPEN! 🥳

We’re proud to welcome you to our first-ever premises, right here in Uvongo.

📍 Shop 6, 5 Foster Road, Uvongo

Whether you’re looking for accredited fi***rm training, fi***rm licensing or assistance with motivations, we’re here to help you every step of the way.

This is more than just a new address, it’s the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Trigger Therapy.

Come visit us, say hello and check out our new space! 🎯

📞 066 367 7553
📧 [email protected]

***rmTraining ***rmLicensing

22/09/2026

The Pretoria High Court ruling has given fi***rm owners with expired fi***rm licences some relief, but with an important limitation. The court confirmed an earlier Constitutional Court decision from the well-known Fidelity case (May 2022), which found that when a fi***rm licence expires, the owner does not automatically lose ownership of the fi***rm.

However, the court stressed that ownership and lawful possession/use are two different things. Although you may still own the fi***rm after the licence has expired, you may not legally use the fi***rm simply because you remain the owner.

The court further ruled that a licensed fi***rm dealer may now receive, register, store, and place a fi***rm with an expired licence into dealer stock. Once with the dealer, the fi***rm can be dealt with through the normal legal processes under the Fi***rms Control Act 60 of 2000, including sale, donation, or a new licence application.

The court also found that certain SAPS guidelines and electronic system restrictions that prevented dealers from accepting these fi***rms were unlawful because administrative rules cannot create restrictions that are not contained in the law itself. SAPS has been ordered to update its procedures and systems within 90 days.

What This Means in Practice
If your fi***rm licence has expired:

✅ You do not automatically lose ownership of the fi***rm.

✅ There is now a clearer legal route to transfer the fi***rm to a licensed dealer for safekeeping, sale, donation, or relicensing.

✅ The ruling may make it easier to deal with fi***rms that have expired licences once SAPS implements the required procedures.

What you cannot do:

❌ You cannot assume that the fi***rm becomes legal to possess, carry, hunt with, or use simply because ownership remains intact. The court specifically distinguished ownership from lawful use.

❌ The ruling is not a blanket amnesty for expired licences. Natshoot cautioned fi***rm owners not to view the judgment as permission to keep or use expired-licence fi***rms indefinitely.

Why This Is Important

For many South African fi***rm owners, especially hunters and sport shooters, expired licences previously created uncertainty about whether the fi***rm could be legally dealt with at all. This judgment confirms that the fi***rm remains an asset owned by the individual and can potentially be sold, transferred, inherited, or relicensed through a dealer instead of being treated as automatically forfeited.

For Your Situation

If you have an expired fi***rm licence or are involved in a re-application process, this judgment is generally positive because it supports the principle that you have not lost ownership merely due to licence expiry. However, until SAPS issues updated procedures, it would be prudent to follow official guidance carefully and not use the fi***rm unless you are legally authorized to do so.

This ruling could be particularly helpful for people applying to relicense fi***rms that were previously licensed but have since expired.

24/07/2026

***rmFriday

11/06/2026

Good news for Accredited Training Providers

03/06/2026

🎉 ONE YEAR OF TRIGGER THERAPY SA 🎉

What started as an idea and a passion for responsible fi***rm ownership has grown into something we are incredibly proud of.

Over the past year, we have had the privilege of assisting clients with competency applications, licence applications, renewals, motivations, and navigating the often complex administrative side of fi***rm ownership.

This year also marked a significant milestone for us personally and professionally, as we both became registered ITA and PFTC Fi***rm Assessors and Instructors. We are currently awaiting our CFR/SAPS accreditation, which will allow us to officially launch our fi***rm training services

To every client who has trusted us with their paperwork, sought our guidance, recommended our services, or simply supported our journey, thank you. Your support has allowed Trigger Therapy SA to grow from a vision into a thriving business.

As we look ahead to the next chapter, we remain committed to helping fi***rm owners navigate the process with confidence, professionalism and integrity

Here’s to Year 2 🚀

Prepare. Protect. Prevail.

***rmOwnership

30/04/2026

Now is not a moment for hesitation, it is a defining line in the sand. This initiative stands at the heart of an industry that does far more than train; it builds safer communities, upholds responsible fi***rm ownership, and sustains livelihoods that feed families and creates real opportunity.

To allow it to be weakened by those in positions of power is to accept a future of declining training standards, increased risk, and a dangerous erosion of accountability. The consequences will not be abstract, they will be felt in every community where safety and responsibility are compromised.

This is the moment to act decisively. Stand up. Speak out. Rally every voice. Unite every stakeholder. Because what is at stake is not just an industry, but the standard of safety, responsibility, and integrity we are willing to defend.

Now is the time to rise, and to bring everyone with you.

30/04/2026

Six reasons why removing PFTC oversight of fi***rm training puts every gun owner, every security officer, and every community at risk. Read it. Share it.

13/04/2026

08/04/2026

Owning a fi***rm comes with responsibility and that includes staying up to date with your paperwork 📑

If your competency or licence is due (or even close), now is the time to act.

At Trigger Therapy, we assist with the admin side of responsible ownership:
✔ Competency applications
✔ Licence renewals
✔ Motivation assistance

No confusion. No last-minute stress. Just the right guidance, when you need it.

📩 Get in touch — we’re here to help you stay compliant.

***rmAdmin