SA to get new number plates

LazyLion

LazyLion

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Durban - Concerns have been expressed about a possible waste of time and resources – while confusion reigns – if proposals to change number plates across the country are adopted. KwaZulu-Natal has developed a plan that the executive council approved in January.

Specifications for new number plates are among suggested amendments to the National Road Traffic Act that have been released for public comment.

The document, received by the Department of Transport last week, was presented to the KZN legislature’s portfolio committee during a discussion of the reviewing of the pro-vince’s number plate system.

The issue is to be debated at a sitting of the legislature next week.

DA member Radley Keys questioned the province’s plan when changes were being planned nationally. He suggested the province put its plan on hold until there was more information about the national proposal. “I am concerned that all the work done here will be overridden by national… the work would be put in the bin.”

COST TO MOTORISTS

This throws a spanner in the works for the KZN number plate project.

Keys was also concerned about the cost to motorists and the government.

The IFP’s Steven Moodley agreed, saying: “New number plates would put an unnecessary financial burden on motorists who are burdened by rising fuel costs and tolls.”

Committee chairman Mxolisi Kaunda said there was support in principle for new number plates.

The plan should, however, be aligned with national regulations so it did not amount to “fruitless expenditure”.

Transport MEC Willies Mchunu said the number plate system was rooted in apartheid and sustained irrelevant magisterial jurisdictions and boundaries.

It had been established with a licence mark and number to denote the then-registration authority and had been issued according to magisterial district. For example, NP denoted Natal Pietermaritzburg, and NKR Natal Kliprivier.

The plates needed to be consistent with the province’s identity, along the lines of Gauteng and Limpopo, for instance, Mchunu said.

He said the numbering plan was nearing its limit as it provided for numbers up to 999 999 and had reached 800 000.

Also, it was difficult to control manufacturers of plates and prevent the use of illegal plates.

“The new plates will seek to tighten security and ensure that we are able to curb crime committed through the use of vehicles.”

FIVE YEARS

Mchunu said the financial implications had not been determined, but consideraton was being given to allowing five years for people to change their plates.

KZN transport spokesman Nathi Sukazi said after the meeting he did not think there was conflict between what the national government and the province were trying to do.

“I can’t imagine the spirit of the process to create a national plate will be one that discourages a provincial identity.”

John Motsatsing, the director of road transport regulation in the national department, said that the process was in the consultative stages. If agreed on, it would go to Parliament. It would take nine to 12 months for legislation to be completed and the process would be implemented thereafter.

The idea was to streamline the process as not all plates followed the same standards.

“It would take us to the basics of what number plates should be.”

The new plates would be easily identifiable when vehi-cles went into other Southern Africa Development Community countries.

Under the proposed system, number plates could be traced to the manufacturer. “From a law enforcement point of view, it would be easier to identify who embossed the plates.”

Motsatsing said the new system would not cost the government anything and vehicle owners would be given “a couple of years” to change to the new plates.

The Mercury
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Picture_71808648.jpg
The national government has announced plans for a new number plate system across the country.
Copy of nm Number Plate Samples (41198665)
 
There was no reason to get rid of the old yellow number plates. They are simply better to see at night.
 
They can fsck right off...

There is no need to get new number plates in KZN at all, none of the series are even close to being filled, and there is this wonderful concept of number re-use that they just can't seem to get right in other provinces, but works fine in KZN.
 
Force those that go over the 999 999 mark to get douchebag custom plates :D
 
It looks like our take on EU plates. I do like the different provincial plates we have at the moment.

If we do this though, we should standardise the sizes, and not have short and long number plates.
 
In lieu of wasting my time on each and every BS notion that emanates from our *****hole government these days, I have developed a concise and efficient remark which encompasses my considered response in its entirety, namely "F**K YOU.".

However, I wish to make an addition to my standard sentiment with specific reference to this subject: I wholeheartedly abhor the idea of advertising my origin as South Africa. It is shameful. I will be scratching off the national flag from every reg' plate that is intended for use on my vehicles.
 
Isn't that a Provincial competency? Can't see the WC Government going for this. Although there is talk of running out of CA plates
 
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JStrike said:
Isn't that a Provincial competency? Can't see the WC Government going for this. Although there is talking of running out of CA plates
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They'll probably implement a letter at the end of the plate, i.e., CA 123-456 [A-Z]. This will give them a considerable amount of new combinations. Something like 26 million new combinations. I think it would be 25 999 973 new combinations if my maths is correct.
 
Anyone a link to the regulation or proposed legislation change? I would like to submit comment on this ludicrous move by Government.

Their list of fails and epic fails grow exponentially by the year. Eish!
 
Rather funny article, thinking this will curb crime, heck any idiot with 3 ton press and cheap engraving machine can make these plates, guess they'll have to throw in a colour printer now as well.
 
>> "He said the numbering plan was nearing its limit as it provided for numbers up to 999 999 and had reached 800 000."

A limited string of numbers have a small domain. They should have used only letters from the beginning, and we would not need updates all the time...

>> "Also, it was difficult to control manufacturers of plates and prevent the use of illegal plates."
"The new plates will seek to tighten security and ensure that we are able to curb crime committed through the use of vehicles."

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Mark my words - these plates are lawfully-mandated e-Tags in disguise!

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Once they've eliminated crimes committed through the use of vehicles (HA!) they can move on to crime committed through the use of :

* toothpaste
* rusty door-latches
* badly sown back-pack straps
* private living-room conversations
 
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Fingolfin said:
>> "He said the numbering plan was nearing its limit as it provided for numbers up to 999 999 and had reached 800 000."

A limited string of numbers have a small domain. They should have used only letters from the beginning, and we would not need updates all the time...

>> "Also, it was difficult to control manufacturers of plates and prevent the use of illegal plates."
"The new plates will seek to tighten security and ensure that we are able to curb crime committed through the use of vehicles."

Mark my words - these plates are lawfully-mandated e-Tags in disguise!
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Ok, we can mark your words, and what will you do when they are just plates of steal with specific patterns etched onto them, and no active sensors or anything in them at all.
 
ToxicBunny said:
Ok, we can mark your words, and what will you do when they are just plates of steal with specific patterns etched onto them, and no active sensors or anything in them at all.
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Then these Plates of Steal would be easily stolen indeed ;)

...but seriously, that would be great - we would not have slipped a further notch down the slippery slope towards Total Prison, and those who marked my words might be more vigilant for the next attempt.

...and they don't need active sensors, just passive RFID tags, surely. The tech can be made so small they could probably do it without us knowing.
 
Nicodeamus said:
There was no reason to get rid of the old yellow number plates. They are simply better to see at night.
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There was no need to change the system in use before the yellow number plates, KZN and others still use that.

All opportunities for graft.
 
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