Gauteng getting ready for new number plates
The Gauteng MEC for Transport and Logistics, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, on Monday, 3 July 2023, officially launched the registration process for manufacturers of vehicle number plates.
The registration process is a crucial component in the Gauteng Provincial Government’s plan to launch a secured new number system to combat crime, corruption, vandalism, and lawlessness in the province.
We understand the importance of ensuring that manufacturers and embossers of number plates operate within the bounds of the law.
Over the years, we have witnessed numerous challenges arising from non-compliant number plates, such as compromised safety, an increase in vehicle-related crime, and a lack of accountability from manufacturers,” said MEC Diale-Tlabela.
Section 5 of the National Road Traffic Act, strictly prohibits manufacturers from engaging in the manufacturing, selling, or distribution of number plates without proper registration.
MEC added that the department is taking a proactive stance in securing the entire value chain, from manufacturing to distribution, ensuring that motor vehicle owners can have confidence in the legitimacy and quality of their number plates.
The registration process requires manufacturers to submit their applications for scrutiny to guarantee accuracy and compliance. Compliance inspectors will diligently inspect the production sites of embossers to ensure adherence to regulations.
Once an application is approved, manufacturers will be required to sign a Service Level Agreement with the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport and make the necessary payments.
MEC Diale-Tlabela further said it is important that the number plate manufacturing value chain encourages the involvement of new entrants, women, youth and persons living with disabilities into the industry.
“By promoting inclusivity and diversity, we can create opportunities for underrepresented groups and foster economic growth,” added the MEC.
This will also equip individuals with the necessary skills and provide them with the knowledge and resources to establish their own small, medium, and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs).
The launch intends to respond to the call made by the Premier of Gauteng when he pronounced the elevated priority of the GGT2030.
During his State of the Province address in February 2023, Premier Panyaza Lesufi announced that the province will be introducing new number plates with tightened security features which will make it difficult for criminals to get away with acts of criminality.
Lesufi said that the province’s registration plates for cars is running out of numeric and alphebetic combinations, and the province is using this as an opportunity to overhaul the system.
The province has gazetted its intention to publish draft regulations related to this, where it will detail the “introduction of security features to improve the credibility of a number plate and enable easy tracking of a number plate within the value chain”.
The plan is to track registration from manufacturer to end user, while also enhancing other security features of the plates.
Lesufi said that the plates will be tamper-proof and difficult to clone. He also wants to work with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to develop a database of all vehicles in the region, so they can be tracked across borders, keeping tabs on cars coming into and leaving South Africa.
Additional info from BusinessTech
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