Militaria without SAPS

The insignia and uniforms of South African Police Services will no longer be traded on the Bob Shop platform.

In August 2015, Bob Shop was contacted by the South African Police Service (SAPS) about listings featuring the SAPS insignia and uniforms. We were informed that the sale of such items is prohibited by law. The SAPS representative quoted the1941 Merchandise Marks Act, the 1962 Heraldry Act, and the 1995 South African Police Service Act, all of which provide legal grounds for the conclusion that “no person may publish or display any emblem of the South African Police Service without the relevant authorization” and that “it is an offence to wear anything materially resembling any uniform, badge or button of the Police Service, unless granted written permission by the National Commissioner to do so”.

Consequently, we have removed all SAPS related listings from the site. We have also revamped our Militaria category in order to do away with all sub-categories pertaining to SAPS.

Sellers are advised that they may no longer list the SAPS insignia and uniforms on Bob Shop. We also ask anyone who notices such items on Bob Shop to alert our Community Watch by clicking on the Report a Problem link in the listing or by writing to communitywatch@bobshop.co.za.

As to any unauthorised persons who happen to have in their possession any item of the SAPS uniform or insignia, please note that you are obliged by law to destroy such items. Section 65 of the 1995 South African Police Service Act expressly prohibits selling or lending these articles and stipulates that anyone who is in contravention of the Act is “guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months."

Do note that the provisions of the Act apply to any item materially resembling uniforms, badges or buttons of SAPS, even if they are no longer in use.