KZN Department of Transport plans to introduce new licence plates

The KZN Department of Transport could soon follow in the footsteps of Gauteng and others regarding motor vehicle licence plates.

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport, Community Safety and Liaison is in the process of introducing new provincial licence plates for motor vehicles.

MEC Sipho Hlomuka revealed this on Tuesday, 24 May during the inspection of temporary facilities at the Goble Road motor licensing office in Durban.

NEW LICENCE PLATES FOR KZN IN THE PIPELINE

Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Western Cape already have a provincial system for licence plates.

Hlomuka said there is a limit with the numbering system and some areas in the province have reached the limit.

Hlomuka said Empangeni they have exhausted their numbers. They were called Natal Richards Bay (NRB), but they are going to use NUF (Natal Umfolozi), and they are not residing in Umfolozi.

“We want to change it to be like other provinces, where it will only say KZN,” he said.

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It is not yet clear how long the process will take but Hlomuka said an announcement will be made soon.

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MOTOR VEHICLES CRITICAL IN FIGHTING CRIME

In December 2022, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi announced that the province will roll out new vehicle licence plates in 2023.

One of the forensic reports, which the Department of Transport commissioned, dealt with alleged fraud and maladministration at Gauteng Drivers Licencing Testing Centres (DLTC).

The findings are as follows:

• Fraudulent optometrist certificates
• Fee dumping (Fee dumping is the practice of applicants with arrears who apply for vehicle license renewal being allowed to proceed and what they owe in arrears is dumped to other accounts, including the accounts of deceased persons).
• Collusion between examiners, applicants and driving schools
• Lifestyle audits – assets not commensurate with salaries
• Expired service level agreements (SLAs) between the Gauteng

Lesufi said the province wants to overhaul the entire licencing regime and put stricter measures in place. The Premier referred to motor vehicles as being critical in fighting crimes like hijacking and robberies, as these crimes are often committed using stolen vehicles.

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