Hijab halts Farzana Rahiman's firearm licence application

Farzana Rahiman, a 44-year-old social worker from Cape Town, found herself facing an unexpected obstacle in her efforts to legally obtain a firearm for self-defence. The hurdle came in the form of a requirement that she remove her hijab, a religious headscarf, during the application process. This requirement, according to Rahiman, halted her application despite extensive preparation and adherence to all legal procedures. Rahiman has spent nearly two decades working in social services, primarily in roles involving child protection. Her career spans over 15 years in provincial government positions before transitioning to a local non-governmental organisation focused on safeguarding vulnerable children. During this time, she has encountered increasingly perilous situations, including being held hostage in her office during a child-removal case. These experiences, combined with reports of rising violence against social workers and other frontline professionals, led her to pursue a firearm licence for self-protection. The decision was not made lightly, Rahiman explained. Growing up in a household where firearms were common, she was familiar with them but acknowledged the difference between comfort and actual ownership. Her husband, who has been licensed since his teenage years, supported her choice. Despite this, the path to obtaining a firearm proved more complex than anticipated. Rahiman began preparing for the process in 2023, purchasing study materials and completing the necessary training through a certified firearm training centre. The total cost of these preparations amounted to approximately R1,700. After earning her certification in firearm control, handling, and shooting, she moved forward with the South African Police Service (SAPS) competency process. This involved submitting her training certificates and paying the required fees at her local police station. As part of the application, Rahiman needed to purchase the firearm and provide detailed information about it, including its calibre and intended use. She specified that the firearm would be used for self-defence. To strengthen her case, she included crime statistics, documentation related to her work, and notes from a parliamentary session addressing attacks on social workers. She submitted the application at her local police station in February 2026. It was at the SAPS office that Rahiman first learned about the potential issue with her hijab. A police officer informed her that the presence of the hijab in the application photograph might lead to rejection. Initially surprised, Rahiman took the matter seriously and sought guidance from a local moulana. The moulana issued a letter explaining her reasons for wearing the hijab, which she then submitted alongside her application. Despite these steps, the process stalled. Rahiman’s husband monitored the application using a tracking tool, and by early July, the application remained unresolved, exceeding the standard 120-day processing window. In late July, he notified her that there appeared to be a problem, citing a note about missing documentation. Confused, Rahiman contacted the designated firearms officer at her local SAPS station, only to be met with confusion over the term “in correspondence.” Determined to resolve the matter, Rahiman visited the provincial SAPS office. There, after explaining her situation, she awaited further clarification on the status of her application. The process, she noted, had become both frustrating and disorienting, highlighting the complexities of navigating bureaucratic systems while advocating for personal safety. The outcome of her application remains pending.