Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi says the province will officially be launching a new ‘cutting-edge, tamper-proof’ number plate system in a pilot launch today, 5 June, at Johannesburg’s Nasrec Centre.
The initiative follows its first announcement in 2023 by Lesufi in his State of the Province Address, as it aims to tackle vehicle-related crimes such as kidnappings, robberies and murders by making it harder for criminals to use fake or cloned plates.
The new high-security number plates will feature the national flag, country code, and a scannable QR code linked to a vehicle database, allowing instant verification by law enforcement.
According to MyBroadBand, the provincial government has already begun testing the system on its own fleet during the 2024/25 financial year, with Transport Minister Barbara Creecy granting an exemption to bypass current plate regulations.
Lesufi added that the new plates feature enhanced security measures to improve vehicle and owner identification, addressing flaws in the current system, which is running out of unique letter and number combinations.
Lesufi highlighted that undocumented and fraudulently plated vehicles are a major factor in Gauteng’s high crime rates, often serving as getaway cars in violent offences.
He then warned that the new system will make it easier for officials to track illegal vehicles.
‘Those who are using wrong or duplicate number plates will have no time to drive through our roads’.
The public launch marks a significant step in Gauteng’s crime-fighting strategy, though full implementation details remain under wraps.
Cape {town} Etc reached out to the Western Cape Mobility Department to enquire about the possibility of testing the new number plate system in the Cape, but we have yet to receive their feedback on the matter.
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