Latest news with #GautengProvince
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Lesufi links vehicles to crime as Gauteng launches new number plate system
The new vehicle registration plate system will feature three letters and three numbers. City of Joburg Transport MMC Kenny Kunene (L), Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi (C) and Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela. Picture: X / @GautengProvince Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi says the province's current number plate format is running out of combinations, prompting the introduction of a new system designed to enhance crime-fighting efforts. Lesufi, alongside Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, unveiled the new vehicle registration plates at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg on Thursday. New number plates for Gauteng motorists The new number plates will include several innovative features designed to enhance security and traceability. These plates will be embedded with QR codes and a track-and-trace system for vehicle identification and registration. Additional design elements include the South African national flag and name, as well as a tamper-evident security decal designed to curb counterfeiting. Beyond crime prevention, the plates will also serve a broader range of administrative and economic functions. ALSO READ: These are Gauteng's hotspots for murder, rape, kidnapping, carjacking and house robbery They will support the Gauteng government in collecting revenue and enforcing vehicle roadworthiness and insurance compliance. The data captured through the new system will also contribute to improved planning and policymaking. Furthermore, the initiative will help manage the number plate supply chain, hold manufacturers accountable throughout the value chain, and create economic opportunities by empowering locally based small, micro, and medium enterprises (SMMEs). As part of the rollout, the provincial government has also introduced state-owned vehicles – referred to as the G-fleet – equipped with the new number plates. This marks the start of a six-month pilot project that will precede a full rollout across the province. [WATCH] : The g-Fleet Management vehicles will be affixed with the new number plates as part of the six-month pilot project, before a provincial rollout. The system is expected to strengthen the vehicle registration assist with crime prevention.#GPNewNumberPlates #TacklingG13 — Gauteng Provincial Gov (@GautengProvince) June 5, 2025 Existing format reaching its limit Speaking during the launch at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg on Thursday, Lesufi said the system is expected to strengthen vehicle registration and assist with crime prevention. '[Whether] you like it or not, 85% of all the crimes that are committed in Gauteng, a motor vehicle is involved. Either it's the getaway, or that car itself is stolen, or the registration of that car is faulty. 'So if we have to fight crime, we have to overhaul the car registration regime,' he said. The premier also highlighted the issue of the province exhausting its available number plate sequences. 'Those that were born in this province, they know we are used to having a yellow number plate that ends with T [which stood for] Transvaal. READ MORE: Arrested kingpins and service delivery: Lesufi lists Gauteng successes 'We migrated to GP [Gauteng Province]. It was three alphabets and three numbers, then GP, [but] we ran out of that. 'We went to the current one, which is two alphabets, [two] numbers and [two more] alphabets. We are running out of that. 'So we said, let's take advantage of this migration and create a completely new digital system that can be accountable.' Under the new system, vehicle registration plates will consist of three letters followed by three numbers before the 'GP' designation. The current number plate series is reportedly set to remain in use until all combinations are exhausted, which is expected to occur around 2038.
The Herald
17-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald
UAT outraged as Gauteng returns unspent R1bn to National Treasury
The United Africans Transformation (UAT) party expressed its disappointment at the Gauteng government after it was revealed that more than R1bn earmarked for critical services had been returned to the National Treasury due to underspending in the 2024/25 financial year. Provincial Treasury department head, Ncumisa Mnyani said on Monday that the department of health did not spend R724.6m of its R66bn allocated budget, while the department of education also failed to use R317.35m of its R66.1bn budget, Sowetan reported. The political party said people of Gauteng cannot continue to suffer because government officials are too slow, too disorganised, or too complacent to do their jobs. 'How does a government with a R66bn health budget fail to spend R724m, when clinics remain understaffed and healthcare infrastructure is crumbling? 'How does a department with a R66.1bn education budget fail to spend R317m, while township schools face overcrowding, poor sanitation and infrastructure backlogs?' the party said. It said Gauteng's infrastructure and services were in dire need of attention. This included roads with unaddressed potholes and maintenance needs, continuous power outages affecting daily life and economic productivity and underfunded schools requiring renovations for a conducive learning environment. 'The returned funds could have fixed our roads, schools and many more. Instead, we're stuck with potholes and darkness, crime, unemployment, lack of housing etc.' TimesLIVE
