South Africa Firearm Competency (Business Purposes / Security) Exam

Section 20 of the South African Firearms Control Act (FCA), 60 of 2000, regulates which of the following?

• ALicences to possess firearms for self-defence purposes
• BLicences to possess firearms for business purposes (security service providers, training…
• CLicences to possess firearms for private collecting purposes
• DLicences to possess firearms for occasional hunting and sports-shooting

According to the FCA, who is the 'responsible person' designated by a business entity licensed to possess firearms?

• AThe junior security officer on duty at any given shift
• BA person designated by the business entity and approved by the Registrar who is responsib…
• CAny external legal consultant hired by the security company on a retainer
• DThe local SAPS station commissioner where the business operates

Under what condition may a security company issue a company-owned firearm to an employee for security duties?

• AThe employee has expressed a general familiarity with firearms during their job interview.
• BThe employee holds a valid competency certificate for the specific class of firearm and h…
• CThe employee has registered with PSIRA as a Grade E officer, regardless of firearm traini…
• DThe company has a verbal agreement with the local SAPS station commissioner.

What is the maximum number of firearms a business licensee (like a security company) may license under the Firearms Control Act?

• AA maximum of 10 firearms per business entity
• BThere is no set limit, but the business must justify the quantity based on its operationa…
• CExactly 2 firearms per registered security guard employed
• DNo more than 50 handguns and 20 shotguns

A security officer on duty is carrying a business-licensed firearm. According to the FCA, what documents must they have on their person?

• AA photocopy of their PSIRA registration certificate only
• BThe original written authorization (permit) issued by the company's responsible person an…
• CThe original green licence card issued by SAPS to the company
• DA signed character reference from their direct supervisor

What is the statutory validity period of a firearm licence issued for business purposes (Section 20) under the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000?

• A2 years
• B5 years
• C10 years
• D20 years

Under the FCA, when a business firearm is not in use for duty, where must it be stored?

• AIn the glove compartment of the patrol vehicle, provided the vehicle is locked
• BIn a safe or strongroom that complies with SABS Standard 953-1 or 953-2, located at the b…
• CUnder the mattress of the security guard's residential home
• DIn a locked wooden desk drawer at the security office reception

Which of the following is an offence regarding the transfer of ammunition by a business licensee?

• APurchasing ammunition of the calibre for which the business holds a valid firearm licence
• BSupplying ammunition to an employee who does not hold a company permit for a firearm of t…
• CKeeping a record of ammunition issued in the company register
• DStoring ammunition in the company's SABS-approved safe

What action must a business licensee take if a company-owned firearm is lost or stolen?

• AWait until the next annual SAPS audit to report the loss.
• BReport the loss or theft to the nearest SAPS station within 24 hours of discovering it.
• CDelete the firearm's record from the company register and purchase a replacement immediat…
• DReport it to PSIRA only, as SAPS does not handle private security assets.

Which regulation under the FCA specifies the annual training and shooting test requirements for security personnel carrying business firearms?

• ASection 13 of the Act
• BRegulation 21 of the Firearms Control Regulations, 2004
• CThe Criminal Procedure Act, Section 49
• DPSIRA Grade C Syllabus Section 4

What is the legal implication if a business licensee permits an employee whose competency certificate has expired to carry a company firearm?

• ANo implication, as the company licence is still valid.
• BBoth the company (represented by the responsible person) and the employee commit a seriou…
• CThe employee is subject only to a verbal warning from the company.
• DThe company receives a minor administrative fine from PSIRA but no criminal liability.

What is the maximum amount of ammunition a security officer may carry on duty under normal business permit authorizations?

• AExactly 100 rounds, regardless of the firearm type
• BOnly the amount specified in the written authorization (permit) issued by the responsible…
• CAs much as they can physically fit into their tactical vest
• DNo more than 5 rounds for a handgun and 2 rounds for a shotgun

According to the FCA, a business licence to possess a firearm is issued to:

• AThe individual security officer who will carry it
• BThe juristic person (the business entity itself)
• CThe local SAPS station commissioner on behalf of the company
• DThe client who hired the security company

In terms of Section 120 of the FCA, pointing any firearm, an airgun, or a muzzle-loading firearm at any other person without good reason to do so is:

• AA standard security protocol to intimidate suspects
• BAn offence punishable by law
• COnly illegal if the firearm is loaded
• DAllowed if the security officer is in full uniform

If a security company ceases business operations, what must it do with its licensed firearms?

• ASell them informally to the guards as part of their severance package.
• BStore them in the responsible person's home safe indefinitely.
• CDispose of them in accordance with the FCA (e.g., transfer to another licensed entity or…
• DBury them in a secure outdoor location to prevent theft.

What is the legal consequence of a security officer losing their PSIRA registration status on their authorization to carry a business firearm?

• ANo consequence, as firearm competency is regulated by SAPS, not PSIRA.
• BThey are no longer legally permitted to perform security work, and carrying a company fir…
• CThey may continue to carry the firearm but only in a concealed manner.
• DThey must pay a double fee for their next competency renewal.

When transporting business firearms to a remote guard site, how must they be carried according to FCA regulations?

• ALoaded and lying loose on the back seat of a patrol vehicle
• BUnloaded, in a secure locked firearm container, out of public view, or on the person of a…
• CHanging from the rear-view mirror to deter potential attackers
• DDisassembled with the barrels removed and sent in a separate vehicle

Which SAPS official is responsible for maintaining the central registry of all firearms and business licences in South Africa?

• AThe Minister of Police
• BThe National Commissioner of SAPS (acting as the Registrar of Firearms)
• CThe PSIRA Director
• DThe local Ward Councillor

A security company wishes to utilize temporary guards from a subcontractor. Who must issue the written authorization for the subcontracted guards to carry the company's firearms?

• AThe subcontractor's HR manager
• BThe responsible person of the licensee company that owns the firearms
• CThe guards can write their own authorizations as long as they have competencies.
• DThe client who hired the primary security company

What is the maximum penalty for a business responsible person who fails to take reasonable steps to secure the company's firearms, leading to their theft?

• AA verbal warning from the company board of directors
• BImprisonment for a period up to 10 years, a fine, and being declared unfit to possess a f…
• CA suspension of PSIRA membership for 1 month
• DThere are no legal penalties for theft since the company is the victim.

What is the primary purpose of a 'double tap' shooting drill in tactical security operations?

• ATo save ammunition by firing only two rounds per engagement
• BTo deliver two rapid shots to the center mass of a threat to increase the probability of…
• CTo clear a weapon malfunction by firing twice
• DTo practice shooting with both hands simultaneously

In tactical shooting, what is the difference between cover and concealment?

• ACover hides you from view; concealment stops incoming bullets.
• BCover protects you from incoming gunfire; concealment only hides you from the threat's si…
• CCover is used for handguns; concealment is used for shotguns.
• DThere is no difference; they are interchangeable terms in tactical shooting.

The 'Mozambique Drill' (or failure drill) taught in advanced security shooting involves which of the following shot sequences?

• AThree shots to the legs to disable the suspect's mobility
• BTwo shots to the chest (center mass) followed by one deliberate shot to the head
• COne warning shot in the air and two shots to the ground
• DFiring a continuous stream of bullets until the magazine is empty

Which of the following describes a 'tactical reload'?

• AReloading only when the firearm has run completely empty and the slide has locked back
• BReplacing a partially spent magazine with a full one during a lull in the fight, retainin…
• CThrowing the empty magazine on the ground as fast as possible during an active exchange o…
• DLoading the firearm while running backward away from the threat

When dealing with a 'stovepipe' malfunction (failure to eject), what immediate action drill should a security officer perform?

• ADisassemble the entire firearm to clean the extractor.
• BTap the bottom of the magazine, rack the slide (sweeping the obstruction away), and evalu…
• CPeer down the barrel to see if a round is stuck.
• DPull the trigger repeatedly until the casing falls out.

What is a 'squib load' and how should a shooter react to it during a training drill?

• AA round with an extra charge of gunpowder; the shooter should shoot faster.
• BA round with insufficient gunpowder that fails to push the bullet out of the barrel; the…
• CA drill where dummy rounds are loaded to practice clearing malfunctions.
• DAn ammunition type designed specifically for warning shots.

Why is the 'Weaver Stance' or 'Isosceles Stance' preferred over older one-handed shooting stances in modern security operations?

• AOne-handed shooting is illegal under PSIRA guidelines.
• BTwo-handed stances provide better recoil control, faster follow-up shots, and maximum sta…
• CTwo-handed stances make the security guard look more intimidating to bypassers.
• DTwo-handed stances are only used for shotguns and rifles, not handguns.

In low-light shooting drills, what is the primary rule for using a tactical flashlight?

• AKeep the flashlight turned on constantly to illuminate the entire area.
• BUse the flashlight in short, intermittent bursts to locate and identify threats, then mov…
• CTape the flashlight to the top of your helmet.
• DFlashlights should only be turned on after you have fired a shot.

What does the term 'sight alignment' mean in handgun shooting fundamentals?

• AClosing your non-dominant eye completely
• BThe relationship of the front sight blade and rear sight notch, where the front sight is…
• CLooking directly at the target and ignoring the sights entirely
• DLining up the barrel with the target's knee

When executing a tactical shooting drill, what is the primary focus of 'trigger control'?

• AJerking the trigger as fast as possible to surprise the gun
• BApplying smooth, continuous rearward pressure on the trigger without disturbing the align…
• CHolding the trigger down for at least 5 seconds after the shot
• DPulling the trigger using the second knuckle of the finger

A security officer experiences a 'double feed' malfunction (two rounds trying to enter the chamber at once). What is the correct sequence to clear this?

• ATap and rack the slide immediately.
• BLock the slide to the rear, strip/remove the magazine, rack the slide multiple times to c…
• CPush the top round in with a pocket knife.
• DDiscard the firearm and draw a backup knife.

What is the purpose of the 'slicing the pie' technique when clearing a corner or obstacle during armed security patrol?

• ACutting warning signs to mark cleared zones
• BClearing a corner in gradual, pie-shaped increments to view potential threats before they…
• CRunning around the corner as fast as possible to surprise the suspect
• DThrowing a smoke grenade around the corner

In tactical shooting, what is the meaning of 'follow-through'?

• AChasing a fleeing suspect after shooting them
• BMaintaining sight alignment and trigger press during and immediately after the shot is fi…
• CPicking up spent cartridge casings from the ground
• DVerifying that the suspect is dead

When shooting a shotgun in a tactical security context, what is the effect of using 'buckshot' versus 'slug' ammunition?

• ABuckshot is only for target practice; slugs are for warnings.
• BBuckshot fires multiple lead pellets creating a spread pattern at short range; slugs fire…
• CBuckshot is non-lethal; slugs are lethal.
• DSlugs are used in smoothbore barrels; buckshot is only for rifled barrels.

What is the primary tactical rule of reloading in an armed engagement?

• AAlways reload in the open to keep eyes on the suspect.
• BReload from behind cover whenever possible.
• COnly reload when you have completely run out of ammunition.
• DReload while shouting verbal warnings

What is the 'ready position' (e.g., Low Ready) used for in tactical firearm handling?

• AHolding the firearm with the muzzle pointed at your own feet
• BHolding the firearm with the muzzle pointed down at a 45-degree angle toward the ground i…
• CKeeping the firearm holstered with the retention straps open
• DPointing the firearm directly at the suspect's face while talking to them

During a live-fire drill, what does the command 'cease fire' require?

• ASlowly finish the magazine and then stop.
• BStop shooting immediately, finger off the trigger, point the muzzle in a safe direction,…
• CHolster the loaded weapon and run to the target.
• DTurn around and look at the range officer.

What is 'anticipation' (flinching) in shooting, and how does it affect accuracy?

• AIt is a positive skill where the shooter anticipates the suspect's movement.
• BIt is a physical reaction where the shooter pushes against recoil before the shot breaks,…
• CIt is when the trigger resets automatically.
• DIt improves accuracy by aligning the body with the recoil force.

What is the function of a 'flash sight picture' in defensive shooting?

• ATaking a photograph of the target using a camera flash
• BObtaining a quick, sufficient alignment of the sights on the target center mass before pr…
• CStaring at the muzzle flash to guide follow-up shots
• DClosing both eyes and shooting by sound

When transition training is conducted, what is the drill 'handgun transition'?

• AHanding your firearm to another guard during a fight
• BMoving from a primary weapon (like a rifle or shotgun) that has failed or run dry, to a s…
• CSwitching the handgun from the right hand to the left hand
• DThrowing your handgun to a suspect to disarm them

In private security, what does a 'Level 3 Retention Holster' provide?

• AThree spare magazine pouches attached to the holster
• BThree active, distinct safety mechanisms (such as a hood, strap, and trigger-guard lock)…
• CA holster made of three layers of bulletproof fabric
• DA holster designed to hold three different guns at once

When an assailant attempts to grab a security officer's holstered firearm from the front, what should the officer's IMMEDIATE physical response be?

• ARelease their grip on the holster and try to run away.
• BSecure the weapon in the holster by placing their hand firmly over the suspect's hand (tr…
• CTry to pull the gun out of the holster immediately to shoot.
• DBlow a whistle to call for backup.

What is the concept of 'blading the body' in weapon retention defensive tactics?

• ACarrying a knife in your hand at all times
• BStanding with your weapon side turned away from the subject, using your support side as a…
• CShaving your head to look more aggressive
• DLaying flat on the ground to reduce your profile

If a suspect grabs the barrel of an officer's drawn handgun in close quarters, what is the most effective mechanical retention technique to regain control?

• APulling straight back in a tug-of-war struggle
• BRotating the firearm rapidly toward the suspect's thumb (leveraging the weakest point of…
• CLetting go of the gun and drawing a secondary firearm
• DPulling the trigger repeatedly, even if the barrel is pointed at the officer

Why is a 'thumb break' holster common in security details using Level 1 or 2 retention?

• AIt breaks the officer's thumb if they draw incorrectly.
• BIt features a leather or plastic strap over the hammer/slide that is released by a sweep…
• CIt is a holster that only fits pocket pistols.
• DIt allows the gun to be fired through the holster.

In close-quarters weapon retention, what is the 'reactionary gap'?

• AThe time it takes to clean a gun after firing
• BThe minimum safe distance (typically 2 to 3 meters) that an officer should maintain from…
• CThe gap between the front and rear sights
• DThe space inside the holster where the trigger guard fits

If an assailant attempts to grab a security officer's long gun (rifle or shotgun), what is the function of the 'sling' in retention?

• ATo tie the suspect's hands together
• BTo keep the weapon physically attached to the officer's torso, preventing the assailant f…
• CTo carry spare shotgun shells
• DTo hang the weapon on a wall when not in use

During a physical struggle, if a suspect gets their hand onto the grip of an officer's holstered handgun, what pressure should the officer apply to lock the gun in place?

• APull the holster upward as hard as possible.
• BPush down vertically on the suspect's hand and the gun grip, forcing the weapon deep into…
• CTry to unbuckle their duty belt.
• DTwist the holster sideways.