plate system
15 June 2007
Following the policy statement by Gauteng MEC for Public Transport, Roads
and Works Ignatius Jacobs regarding the imminent introduction of a new number
plate system for Gauteng as presented in his 2007/08 Budget Speech to the
provincial legislature, and the subsequent public interest expressed within the
parameters of the democratic practice, the department would like to further
clarify the issue to the public.
The aim of the new intelligent number plate system is to provide Gauteng
with a wide variety of applications, to increase efficiency and effectiveness
in all areas of operation, enhance the integrity of vehicle registration
compliance and effective law enforcement. The project will use the most
suitable technology available to enhance the goal of the government, ensuring
the provision of an accurate and secure method of vehicle identification and
verification. Furthermore, it will also enhance the efforts to sanitise the
current vehicle registration information system.
The benefits of the new number plate system, which will be implemented by
January 2008, will enable the Gauteng Provincial Government to address the
following:
* Use a high integrity electronic tag to effectively control the number plate
distribution channel to combat the indiscriminate manufacture of both compliant
and non-compliant plates (each plate will be unique)
* Restore the integrity of the number plate to fulfil its true functions, which
are the vehicle's identity document and a law enforcement tool
* Prevent deviation from the set national standards such as SA National
Standard 405 EDI and SA National Standard 245353 EDI. The new number plate
system is in line with these standards.
* Prevent vehicle crime issues such as theft, vehicle cloning, and the false
issuing of all types of vehicle documents
* ensure effective utilisation of plates to spot non-compliant vehicles without
inconveniencing compliant vehicles
* Prevent the issuing of false plates and licence disks to export stolen
vehicles, which is currently a major challenge for law enforcement
agencies
* Prevent the use of false plates to disguise vehicles used in crimes
* Prevent the duplication of license plates to fraudulently operate a number of
vehicles on one registered license. It will also deal with the non-renewal of
annual licenses, and the fraudulent issuing of vehicle fitness licences.
* Ensure that the correct vehicles can be linked to the correct owner.
The project will also be linked to a system that works hand in hand to
assist with the current vehicle registration information system in the form of
an added vehicle and driver database, giving Gauteng a back-up to more accurate
and reliable vehicle information.
This project will also form part of the Integrated Safety and Security
System to read, verify and authenticate vehicles and drivers.
In terms of work currently underway, the testing of the audit trail of the
new number plate, involving manufacturers and embossers, will be conducted as a
pilot project within the same industry, taking a period of six months, starting
in August 2007. This includes ongoing consultation with key stakeholders and
users. Full-scale implementation is scheduled for the 1st of January 2008. The
new number plate series is linked to the provincial crime reduction strategy,
in that the series has security mechanisms on the number plates that link each
vehicle to its owner, and that there will be accreditation of all number plate
manufacturers and distributors.
The implementation of the new system will not entail the payment of an
additional cost by motorists. The motorists will still pay for a new set of
plates, at the appropriate time of the replacement of their plates, as is
currently the case. The system will also introduce a third number plate known
as the number validation label, with a barcode and security features that would
be both human readable as well as by machines currently utilised by law
enforcement agencies. The cost thereof will also be communicated at project
readiness.
The department is currently engaged in a process to ensure a proper phasing
out of the current number plate system over a period of time, and this will be
communicated to the general public and all stakeholders, as soon as the project
is ready for implementation. The timeframes regarding the beginning of the
full-scale implementation, starting in January 2008, will be announced once the
project readiness and consultation have been concluded.
For more information contact:
Alfred Nhlapo
Tel: 011 355 7553
Cell: 083 376 8496
Issued by: Department of Public Transport, Roads and Works, Gauteng
Provincial Government
15 June 2007
