Money-making change to KZN number plates

KwaZulu-Natal - and probably Western Cape - vehicle owners will have to dig into their pockets to pay for changes to their vehicle registration numbers and plates, reports Wheels 24. After years of fierce debate about proposals to replace town-based registrations, and with this present system running out of available numbers, a provincial transport department spokesperson has confirmed that the provincial cabinet had approved the department’s plan for 'KZN' plates. Details of the changeover are yet to be announced but Wheels24's sister publication The Witness understands the new plates are likely to be aluminium - not plastic - and include, as with the Eastern Cape (elephant) and Limpopo (baobab), "trademarks". CE of the SA Number Plate Association, Zurika Louw, said the change would improve security and car identification - especially after severe collisions. “The current plastic plates appear to be cause for concern. I understand KZN wants its plates to be aluminium, which cannot be burnt after a crash.” The KZN department now wanted permission from the national department of transport to develop a plan for the roll-out and, thereafter, to amend legislation. The spokesperson could not say what it would cost vehicle owners for the re-licensing - but new plates cost R150/set. Whatever, it's definitely a money-making scheme for the provincial authorities and number plate makers, a leading road freight operator told FTWO.