By Sipho Tshabalala
Launching the 2023 October Transport Month Campaign, Gauteng MEC for Transport and Logistics Kedibone Diale-Tlabela announced the provincial government’s efforts to strengthen its battle against crime and corruption will be in vain if lawlessness and crime are not addressed.
The MEC indicated the Department was “on the cusp of launching a new, secure, and tamper-proof number plate system”. This in its contribution towards combating criminality and lawlessness in the province. She added the official unveiling of the new prototype is scheduled to take place on 23-24 October during the licensing conference.
Delivering the State of the Province Address earlier in the year, Premier Panyaza Lesufi indicated that vehicles are a common denominator in violent crimes, either as stolen or getaway vehicles.
He further explained the current number plate system is nearing its end, soon to run out of letters and numbers to identify specific vehicles.
Vehicle registration numbers are used to identify vehicles, a regulatory and law enforcement tool issued and owned by the state. The numbers are allocated to vehicles as part of the process of registering and licensing of motor vehicles in terms of the National Road Traffic Act.
The MEC further said the Department will forge ahead with its plans to unveil new generation Driving License Testing Centres in townships, the first of which in Atteridgeville – City of Tshwane - later in the month.
She added the Department is working to “unveil the Transport Management Centre, equipped with smart technologies that provide real-time data for informed decision-making by commuters and operators alike”. This is a result of “efforts to integrate public transport through the construction of our state-of-the-art Transport Management Centre. The centre is located the Department's Head Office in Johannesburg. The MEC added this “marks a significant step toward implementing the One-Ticket-One-Province system”.