Elections must be right around the corner. We know this, not because of a simple Google search, but because the government has been all the more focused on stamping out crime than ever before. At least, since the last big push in 2019. Part of the new wave of crime-stamping involves dolling out brand-new, “tamper-proof” number plates to everyone in South Africa. Yup, everyone.
Gauteng’s got new plates
You might’ve seen eNCA’s interview with Panyaza Lesufi, Gauteng’s Premier, where he went a little more in-depth on the government’s recent partnership with Vumacam that’ll see it tap into a massive feed of cameras around the province — all in the name of our safety (and votes). Lesufi mentioned that most of the country’s crimes involve motor vehicles in some way, whether it be heists, kidnapping or murder. Thus, new numberplates were born.
“Our licencing regime was very bad. So, we will launch new number plates in Gauteng from the first of April,” Lesufi said.
We’re not sure exactly how the revamped number plates will be “tamper-proof”, but we’ll find out soon enough. Lesufi said that the new plates will be unveiled on Monday, 19 February. You won’t be able to simply stroll into the nearest licencing department, though. Drivers looking to apply for a new licence disc will also need to get a new registration number simultaneously.
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“We are starting afresh, all of us. Every person that has a car must re-register and get a new registration number that can’t be copied, can’t be removed and is reliable,” he said.“Everyone must register their vehicle. If you spend 30 consecutive days in Gauteng, it means your car must be registered in Gauteng.”
The idea is to avoid clogging up the country’s departments, and gradually roll out the number plates over the coming years and months. As much as we abhor standing in line for a few more hours than usual, it’s probably the best way to roll something like this out.