Sipho Tshabalala
The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport (GDRT) is working to swell numbers of its policing capacity to combat taxi violence, criminality and lawlessness in the province.
This was announced by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi at the State of the Province Address (SoPA) in Katlehong on Thursday, 15 August 2024.  
“Our Department of Roads and Transport is beefing up our capacity to combat public transport conflict and taxi violence in partnership with the Road Traffic Management Corporation, SAPS and Metro Police units”.
In 2019, the provincial government established the Commission on Inquiry on Taxi Violence tasked with investigating the underlying causes of taxi violence, make findings and recommendations. Amongst its recommendations was that the Department should have a Public Transport Intervention Unit (PTIU) whose officers are focussed on and tasked with ensuring effective law enforcement, enhancing visibility and active involvement in matters related to violence within the public transport sector.
Meanwhile, the Premier also indicated that in the majority of major crime incidences in the province, a motor vehicle is involved. To this he noted that “it is within this context that we are overhauling our number plate regime to disrupt the involvement of vehicles in criminality. From January 2025, these new registration plates will be rolled out for all motor vehicle owners”.
A prototype number plate recognition system for the province’s new number plates has been developed and will soon start being piloted by government. This will pave the way for the provincial rollout.
The Gauteng Provincial Government is embarking on a comprehensive overhaul of the vehicle licensing regime, aimed at strengthening compliance and enhancing crime-fighting efforts. Introduction of new, secure, and tamper-proof number plates is expected to discourage the use of motor vehicles in criminal activities. They are designed to prevent cloning, enhance safety, and establish accountability from manufacturers and retailers in the value chain.