New number plates for South Africa are not a hoax

A recent presentation at the 2016 TruckX conference reminded South Africans that the government has published regulation for new national number plates.

New national number plates were first officially mentioned in a Department of Transport Notice, published in Government Gazette No. 38430 on 28 January 2015.

The Department of Transport responded to the reports on the presentation, stating that South Africa’s number plates are not changing.

The Department told The Pretoria News it has “not made a determination, published any notice, or issued a public statement regarding the so-called new number plates”.

Department of Transport spokesperson Ishmael Mnisi said: “the document that has been doing the rounds is not authentic”.

He added that “the source of the document would be investigated and action taken against them”.

The source of the document, which contains the Department of Transport notice, is the official Government of South Africa website.

MyBroadband took screenshots to show the Department of Transport notice in the Government Gazette No. 38430, which was published on the official South African government website.

New number plates are real

Following the statements by Mnisi, the Department of Transport has subsequently stated that the new number plates are real.

“The Department of Transport has embarked on a process to standardise as well as improve the security features of the South African motor vehicle number plate,” it said.

“On 28 January 2015, the Department published in the government gazette draft Regulation Amendments intending to effect changes to the motor vehicle number plates.”

“The Department, through MinMec, is considering inputs informed by the public consultation process as well as research and expert submissions.”

“On the issue of standardisation, MinMec is considering various options including the use of the national flag as well Provincial Coat of Arms to improve on road safety.”

The Department’s internal discussions and consultation process on the matter are ongoing, it said.

“At the end of the Departmental consultation process, the matter will be presented to Cabinet.”

Read the full article at MyBroadband

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