This is what Gauteng’s new number plates could look like
Gauteng is preparing to introduce new number plates, which will feature a refreshed design.
This design is expected to include a QR code and a national flag, replacing the provincial emblem that currently appears on the plates.
The new licence plates are scheduled to be introduced within the current financial year in Gauteng.
Although the final design has not yet been publicly unveiled, the Gauteng Department of Transport (GDoT) has provided several insights into the anticipated changes.
Among the key features, the new plates will include scannable QR codes, which will link to an online database containing vehicle information.
In September 2023, the GDoT told the motoring publication TopAuto that the current series of number plates (AA 11 AA GP) would remain in use until they were fully exhausted, a process expected to last until around 2038.
The new plates appear to continue the current series, with updates focused more on design and security features rather than a complete overhaul of the numbering system.
A 2015 Government Gazette offers further clues about the design of the new plates.
On 28 January 2015, the National Department of Transport published draft regulations in Government Gazette No.38430 proposing changes to motor vehicle number plates.
These changes were driven by concerns that the existing number plate system was vulnerable to abuse by unregistered manufacturers and criminals who clone vehicles to commit crimes.
The proposed regulations aimed to introduce stricter controls over number plate production and distribution to address these issues.
Although these 2015 regulations were never implemented, the rationale behind them closely mirrors the reasoning Gauteng is using to justify the introduction of new plates today, nearly a decade later.
The 2015 gazette also included illustrations of a proposed number plate design featuring the now-confirmed QR code, which will be a central element of the new Gauteng plates.
Another notable change in the design is the replacement of the provincial emblem, currently located between the second pair of numbers and the “GP” identifier, with a national flag positioned on the far left above the QR code.
This design was initially intended for all nine provinces in South Africa, but it now seems likely to be implemented exclusively in Gauteng.
The introduction of new number plates in Gauteng is expected to come with a new set of regulatory controls, which has raised concerns among consumer advocacy groups like the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa).
The new number plate plan in Gauteng faces significant challenges, primarily because it could incentivize motorists and fleet operators to register their vehicles in other provinces.
Outa explained that one major flaw in the plan is the additional financial burden it imposes on vehicle owners.
The cost of replacing the plates, combined with the new controls and registration requirements, could lead to higher expenses for individuals and businesses, particularly those with large fleets.
Moreover, the new plates are being introduced with the intention of enhancing security and preventing vehicle cloning, but these benefits may be outweighed by the administrative and financial pressures on vehicle owners.
Outa has warned that these costs might compel fleet operators to register vehicles outside of Gauteng to avoid the higher expenses, which could result in significant revenue losses for the province.
This loophole undermines the effectiveness of the new system, as it could lead to widespread non-compliance, diminishing the intended security improvements.
Overall, while the new plates aim to improve vehicle identification and reduce crime, their implementation may backfire if not carefully managed, leading to unintended economic consequences for Gauteng.
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