Gauteng’s transport department has remained largely silent on its plan to introduce new vehicle number plates in the province, a project that has already experienced multiple delays.
The most recent update came from Gauteng transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela in August 2024, when she announced that a prototype number plate recognition system had been developed and would begin rolling out within six months.
MyBroadband reached out to the department for further details, but it did not respond before publication.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi initially unveiled the plan to launch new number plates during his 2023 State of the Province Address, emphasizing that the new system would play a key role in reducing crime.
“Cars are often linked to violent crimes, either as stolen vehicles or getaway cars,” Lesufi explained. “Those using fake or duplicate plates will no longer be able to evade detection on our roads.”
He added that the new plates would be designed to be highly secure and tamper-proof.
Months later, Diale-Tlabela published a notice in the Government Gazette, outlining the provincial government’s plans to draft regulations for the new system. These regulations focus on the introduction of advanced safety features and the registration of manufacturers, with the registration process for manufacturers starting in July 2023.
No official launch date for the new plates was provided until February 2024, when Lesufi announced that the system would be introduced in April 2024.
“Our current licensing system has been inadequate. From the 1st of April, Gauteng will launch new number plates,” he declared. However, he later clarified that this date applied only to government vehicles, with the public launch to follow after national approval.
Lesufi explained that the new system was part of a broader national initiative still awaiting finalization by the Department of Transport. “Once the Minister of Transport approves the legislation, Gauteng will be ready to implement the new number plates,” he said.
Beginning in April, the province planned to pilot a “track and trace system” for official vehicles. However, this too faced delays, with Diale-Tlabela announcing in August that the system’s pilot would roll out within the next six months.
New Number Plates with a Catch
While the new number plates are expected to enhance crime-fighting efforts, they come with a significant change: motorists will need to obtain a new registration number when renewing their vehicle license discs.
“We are starting from scratch,” Lesufi stated. “Everyone who owns a car must re-register and obtain a new, secure registration number that cannot be duplicated.”
Additionally, he said that any vehicle spending more than 30 consecutive days in Gauteng would need to be registered in the province.
This requirement has raised concerns. The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) cautioned the Gauteng government against making the new number plates too costly or difficult to register, warning it could result in significant revenue losses.
Outa CEO Wayne Duvenage questioned the cost of the new plates, noting that “new controls may come with a price,” potentially driving fleet operators to register their vehicles in other provinces.
Currently, all Gauteng motorists must pay a R204 vehicle registration fee. With over 4.6 million motorists in the province, the government could collect more than R938 million before any additional fees are introduced.
