Although the proposal for new, standardised and “safer” number plates has yet to be presented to Cabinet, the plans are on the cards and are not a hoax.
The national Department of Transport (DoT) issued a statement on Friday clarifying the issue after its spokesperson, Ishmael Mnisi, publicly questioned the authenticity of a Government Gazette document on the plans for number plates.
DoT said it was currently working on a process to standardise South African motor vehicle number plates, as well as improve the security features.
“As part of the new improvements to our number plates, the regulations will ensure that manufacturers are regulated to ensure that we can account for every motor vehicle number plate that is issued through coding,” the department said.
MinMec – which comprises the minister and deputy minister of transport and the members of provincial executive councils (MECs) responsible for transport – is reportedly collaborating on proposed designs for a national number plate that is applicable in all provinces.
“The operability of the current South African number plate is prone to abuse by unregistered number plate manufacturers. Equally, the system in its current form is also taken advantage of by criminals who clone vehicles and commit other forms of crime,” the department said.
MinMec is consulting widely through calls for comment from the public as well as through research and consultation with industry experts.
Once the consultation process has been concluded, a final proposal will be presented to Cabinet.
