Gauteng launches innovative number plates to fight crime
Image: Supplied
The Gauteng provincial government this week launched a new high-tech, tamper-proof and crime-fighting number plate system to be piloted over the next six months on its fleet before being publicly rolled out.
According to the provincial Roads and Transport Department, the new intelligent number plate system represents a giant leap as it is a secure, traceable, and smart solution, incorporating tamper-evident decals, forensic QR (quick response) codes, and a fully digitised back-end portal.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and Roads and Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela officially unveiled the new system on Thursday in Johannesburg.
The system's features include the ability to drastically improve the credibility of number plates and to enable license plate tracking within the value chain, from manufacturer to the vehicle owner.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Next
Stay
Close ✕
'These technological enhancements are designed to combat vehicle theft, fraud, and cloning, while improving road safety and empowering traffic law enforcement across the province,' the department explained this week.
For the next six months, the system will be piloted using g-Fleet vehicles affixed with the technologically advanced new number plates as part of the stress testing project before the provincial rollout.
'This system is set to drastically improve the credibility of number plates and to enable license plate tracking within the value chain, from manufacturer to end user (vehicle owner),' stated the department.
In addition, it is hoped that the system will also address longstanding challenges in vehicle registration and the law enforcement framework, tackling cloned or fraudulent license plates, lack of interoperability with Southern African Development Community systems, and inadequate data traceability.
Lesufi said his administration, assisted by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, is now deploying a digital system that ensures the ability to account for every vehicle on the province's roads.
He warned that those using fraudulent or duplicate number plates will have no space or time to drive in Gauteng.
Diale-Tlabela said the smart number plates will significantly reduce vehicle cloning, trafficking of stolen vehicles, and the use of falsified plates in criminal activities, as well as disrupt criminal networks and improve road safety.
The Gauteng provincial legislature's Portfolio Committee on Transport and Logistics welcomed the strategic introduction of the number plates as an intervention towards safer roads.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
12 hours ago
- The Citizen
Gauteng MEC to visit Maponya Mall to assess ongoing tensions in public transport sector
Gauteng MEC to visit Maponya Mall to assess ongoing tensions in public transport sector Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, will visit Maponya Mall on Thursday to assess ongoing tensions in the public transport sector, engage with affected stakeholders, and review the situation on the ground. This is according to the South African Government News Agency ( The visit follows a violent incident on Wednesday at the mall, allegedly involving taxi operators and e-hailing drivers, which resulted in one fatality and left two others injured. ALSO READ: One dead in suspected taxi violence at Maponya Mall In response to the growth of e-hailing services, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed an amended National Land Transport Act (NLTA) 5 of 2009 into law last year, allowing e-hailing operators to apply for operating licences in the same manner as other public transport providers. @sowetourbannews Community blocks roads following e-hailing violence at Maponya Mall, Soweto Protestors march in support of e-hailing drivers after a e-hailing driver was killed in a suspected taxi violence attack on August 13. Workers of Maponya Mall also came out in numbers in their uniform to join the protest. 📹: @ #maponyamall #klipspruit ♬ original sound – Soweto Urban News – Soweto Urban News The National Land Transport Act was originally presented to the president in 2020 but was returned to the National Assembly for reconsideration. The revised Bill updates the Act to reflect developments since its implementation, simplifies provisions, and resolves issues that have arisen. ALSO READ: WATCH: Community protests after the death and injuries of e-hailing drivers It also makes allowances for non-motorised and accessible transport and expands the minister's powers to introduce regulations and safety measures. The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport continues to monitor the situation closely and aims to ensure the safety of commuters while maintaining order in the sector.
IOL News
17 hours ago
- IOL News
You read the news, but we – the journalists
Letters to the Editor. Image: Supplied And just how exactly is this going to work? I read in the media that AARTO will be implemented in the near future. But with the shocking state of road behaviour, I have to ask: who will police it? We see it daily – taxis driven by unlicensed drivers or those with bought licences, totally unroadworthy vehicles, tailgating, shooting red lights at high speed, no idea of how to handle four-way stops, and blatant rule-breaking such as blacked-out windows, illegal exhausts, parking anywhere, and ignoring indicators. Fatal head-on crashes between taxis and buses, bakkies, and even other taxis happen with alarming regularity. Overloading is routine, and proper driving school instruction is clearly this, add traffic officials who are corrupt, involved in crime, fraud, and bribery – including at licensing departments where roadworthy certificates are bought. The taxi industry often operates with impunity, resembling organised policing already almost invisible and riddled with corruption, how will AARTO be enforced? How do you take away a licence from someone who never had one in the first place? Unless there is a complete overhaul of traffic law enforcement, AARTO will remain just that – a pipe dream. | Roland Fisher Durban Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ It's simple: European lives count more There has been global outrage and condemnation over the killing of five journalists. Ruthless Netanyahu gunned down the Al-Jeeraza journalists in Gaza on Sunday, claiming they were fighting for Hamas while posing as journalists. But Hamas and Al-Jeeraza have denied this. According to the UN, an estimated 241 Palestinian journalists have killed by the Israelis since the invasion of Gaza in 2023. Journalists are enemies of the Israelis. They tell the world about the atrocities Netanyahu's forces are committing in Gaza. They are trouble-makers, always nosing around and spreading false information. So they have to be wiped out. If Netanyahu can kill helpless women, innocent children and even little babies still suckling their mother's breasts, what are journalists to him? They are just paper to him, to be torn and squashed to Netanyahu cannot kill the people of Gaza with his guns, he'll starve them to death. He has, however, rubbished claims by the aid organisations and the media that there is starvation in Gaza. He has called it a 'bold faced lie'. For once US President Donald Trump has spoken out against his ally and agreed with the media and the aid organisations there is real starvation in Gaza. But Trump will go no further than merely saying that the people of Haza are being starved to death. He hasn't ordered Netanyahu to stop the bloodshed in Gaza or that the US will stop supplying Israel with armaments. Yet tomorrow he is going to meet with Vladimir Putin in Alaska and ask him to stop the war in Ukraine. So Trump-like, double-faced. Ukraine is a European country and Palestine is not. Israel is helping in the war against terrorism, fighting radical organisations like Hamas and Hezbollah. The Middle East is of strategic importance to it and Israel is helping it to maintain the balance of power in the region. In the end it boils down to this: whether you are European or not. European lives matter more; Palestinian (and Sudanese) don't. | Thyagaraj Markandan Kloof Don't shoot the messenger As a journalist, I am shattered by the killing of five Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza – a grotesque act of barbarity by a military force pulverising a defenceless people. No nation in the past seven decades has committed killings on such a scale, immune from prosecution because of powerful allies controlling the levers of global governance. The brutal killing of journalists is savagery the so-called civilised world must condemn as strongly as it has denounced the war in Ukraine. The display of raw firepower in Gaza and the West Bank makes that conflict pale in comparison. Such killing is premeditated murder. The Western media, with its tainted reporting, aids and abets the aggressor. International diplomacy is absent. The momentum for peaceful dialogue diminishes by the hour, while resort to brute force risks igniting a wider conflagration. A world of double standards turns a blind eye when Muslims are the victims. Since 1990, more than 2,500 journalists have been killed. Murdering a journalist is the ultimate form of censorship; jailing them is intimidation. When journalists are killed, democracy dies. Violence hangs over the gatekeepers of our freedoms, and ending impunity for these crimes is essential to protect free expression and access to information. The UN General Assembly has proclaimed November 2 the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists. Journalists are our eyes and ears. As the old saying goes: 'You buy the news – we pay the price.' The first casualty in conflict is the truth; the second is the the Geneva Conventions, journalists are civilians in conflict zones. Harming or killing them is a war crime. Yet killings persist, and when they go unpunished, more will follow. Silencing the messenger will bring catastrophe for humanity. As the saying goes: 'The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.' | Farouk Araie Benoni Community narrative is clear As more details drip out regarding the format of the ANC's 'national dialogue', to some extent the intended exercise may parallel Mao Zedong's 'One Hundred Flowers' campaign of 1956-57. Fully aware of the peasants' resistance to his policy of enforced collectivisation of agriculture, Mao's open dialogue campaign had a dual purpose: to soften resistance to collectivisation and to identify key political opponents by drawing them out into the open. 'Let a hundred flowers bloom; let a hundred schools of thought contend', was an entirely false invitation by Mao who had every intention of emulating the brutal collectivisation Stalin had imposed on agriculture in Russia. Similarly, the proposed 'national dialogue' is an ANC contrivance because regardless of community opinion, it has no intention of deviating from the trajectory of its historically discredited Marxist National Democratic Revolution. Thus, the promotion of 'community dialogue' to be held in every ward, not once but three times, is a no-brainer because the narrative of community dialogue is very much alive and clear in social media and the weekly community newspapers. That narrative calls for an end to the corruption, incompetence and fraud of the ANC. It does not require any money to recognise that, which is why the R700-million dialogue budget is an unconscionable waste. But, as we all know, it will be distributed among the useful idiots the ANC has invited to lend credence to the farce, ANC cronies, the hiring of buses, halls, caterers and disc jockeys to create a suitable ambience while South Africa continues to flounder. | DR DUNCAN DU BOIS Bluff Sooner all things get better It is sheer desperation to believe you can prepare the way for the next 30 years of South Africa when you have failed to do so in the past 32. Someone close to President Cyril Ramaphosa should remind him that a leopard doesn't change its spots – and a rapidly declining ANC has proven this to be true.A glimmer of hope appeared when the leadership of the legacy foundations withdrew from the Au 15 gust national convention. Like-minded people in the president's circle should take note and avoid the trap of trying to save a 40% party. Before we can 'march forward to a people's government,' Mr Ramaphosa must address the matters that have contributed to our failed state: *Exclusion of the Foundation Nation (Khoisan) from the Codesa process set the stage for future failure, building every government since on the wrong foundation. *(Zondo Commission recommendations – senior ANC figures were implicated in state capture, and even Chief Justice Zondo admitted it pained him to swear in some ministers. *Malfunctioning municipalities – the auditor-general has repeatedly exposed failures in financial management, legal compliance, and service delivery. *Enduring corruption – the public deserves to know how much taxpayer money has been wasted during this presidency before another R1 billion is spent on a national dialogue. As another voice in the media recently said of the decayed state of Johannesburg: 'When the president expressed shock at the CBD's condition in March 2025, 'one felt the betrayal like a bitter poison in the mouth'.' Many South Africans no longer trust a president seemingly unaware of what happens under his own nose. It's time to wake up, Mr President, and smell the coffee – because all good things come to an end, some sooner than later. | Clive Solomon Goodwood DAILY NEWS
The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
Cost of new number plates faces scrutiny
The rollout of a new high-tech, tamper-proof number plate system has sparked widespread concern over cost, necessity, and transparency, most notably from civil rights organisation AfriForum. Gauteng Provincial Government has begun rolling out the new number plate system within the province's fleet of cars since June 5 in a bid to combat crime, vehicle fraud, and enhance law enforcement. This pilot is expected to last for six months before a broader rollout to the public. As the pilot phase continues, AfriForum is awaiting a response to its internal appeal and weighing its next steps, which may include lodging a formal complaint with the Information Regulator or pursuing legal action to compel the release of requested data like the cost of the plates. The initiative, spearheaded by Premier Panyaza Lesufi and unveiled in June, includes plans to extend it to all private and commercial vehicles in the province by early 2026. The plates are designed with advanced security features, including QR codes, anti-tamper decals, and a digitised backend to allow for instant verification of vehicle ownership and status. No costs to vehicle owners were announced by the premier at the launch. The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport touts the system as a modern, digitised approach to tackle vehicle-related crime and streamline enforcement. AfriForum, which represents over 185 000 members in Gauteng, has lodged an internal appeal after the department failed to respond to its Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) request on data about the project within the mandated 30 days. The organisation is demanding answers on key aspects of the new number plate project, including estimated cost per unit, the timeline for mandatory replacement, and the research behind claims that the system will improve road safety or reduce crime. According to Louis Boshoff, spokesperson and campaign officer at AfriForum, the organisation's concerns are rooted in broader issues of governance. 'Gauteng residents are already under pressure due to poor service delivery, ranging from persistent power cuts to unreliable water supply. Launching a costly new number plate system at this time appears to be a misplaced priority,' Boshoff stated. AfriForum's PAIA request focuses on three core areas: how much the new plates will cost motorists, when the public will be required to replace existing plates, and the research backing the claims of improved security. The department acknowledged receipt of the request, and after a follow-up, indicated that the information was being processed. However, when no further communication was received, AfriForum proceeded with an internal appeal. One of the organisation's main criticisms is the lack of clarity around pricing. At present in Pretoria, the cost of registration plates varies. A standard set of number plates (front and rear) can cost around R220 to R500 for metal plates with R100 for backing plates if needed. Additional fees may apply for things like attachment frames, service fees for processing the registration, or if you choose personalised plates. 'The only available comparison is the current price of a standard number plate. If the new system involves improved security features, higher production costs are almost inevitable,' said Boshoff. 'Additionally, replacing a number plate may also require a new licence disk, adding to the financial burden on motorists.' Boshoff questioned the project's relevance in addressing Gauteng's urgent challenges. 'Even if the new number plates function exactly as intended, this does not address the core issue, which is weak law enforcement. Without consistent enforcement, the efficacy of advanced number plates is negligible.' AfriForum is also sceptical about the research that supposedly informed the project. According to Boshoff, the organisation has reviewed numerous studies related to road safety and crime prevention in South Africa but has found no compelling evidence linking enhanced number plate security with measurable improvements in these areas. 'If such research does exist, we are baffled as to why the department has failed to share it with the public,' he said. The initiative comes with significant logistical implications. Gauteng is home to over 3.5 million registered vehicles, meaning about 7 million new plates, front and rear, would need to be produced and distributed. For AfriForum, the absence of a transparent budget or feasibility study raises red flags. Boshoff warns that the initiative could follow the same trajectory as the widely criticised e-toll system: 'If this is pushed through without public buy-in or transparency, we could see another stalled project due to mass non-compliance.' While the department maintains that the pilot phase will evaluate the system's cost implications and functionality, concerns persist that vehicle owners will ultimately shoulder the cost of the transition. If prices become too high, organisations like the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) have warned that fleet operators may choose to license their vehicles in other provinces, potentially leading to revenue losses for Gauteng. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok.
