Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za
3-minute read
08 January 2025 | 10:10 CAT

Gauteng rolls out world-first smart number plates to combat crime and cloning, featuring embedded QR codes and digital tracking. (📷 Gauteng-License-Plates)

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has finally unveiled the long-awaited high-tech number plate system, developed in partnership with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), aimed at curbing vehicle-related crime across the province. The rollout comes after several missed deadlines, with the first six months set aside for testing the plates on government vehicles.

Speaking to Radio Islam International, Dr Sihle Sibaya from CSIR confirmed that the primary goal was to address the rampant cloning of number plates used in criminal activities. “The majority of crime in the province involves vehicles. Criminals use cloned number plates, and the system was failing to track them due to unregistered and unauthorised embossers,” said Sibaya.

The solution? A robust new number plate featuring high-tech security elements, including an embedded QR code and a decal sticker with its own code and manufacture year. “Even if the number plate or the vehicle is burned, the security features remain accessible,” Sibaya assured.

The revamped plates also meet international and regional standards, bearing the South African flag and the ‘ZA’ country code. Existing number combinations will remain unchanged, but the new plate design now excludes the provincial emblem, replacing it with the province’s name and traditional abbreviation such as ‘GP’ for Gauteng.

One of the standout features is what Sibaya calls the “digital twin” a digital record of the number plate in a secure system. “Each plate can be tracked from manufacture to embosser to vehicle owner. Only accredited embossers with departmental approval can access the system, making it virtually impossible for rogue actors to produce fake plates,” he explained.

While the plates will initially be seen on state vehicles, public rollout hinges on the national Minister of Transport signing off on the relevant regulations. “This is the first smart number plate of its kind in the world,” said Sibaya, calling it a global innovation in vehicle identification.

The Department of Transport will soon have full oversight of every role player in the number plate value chain is a significant leap from the previously manual and fragmented process. With this development, Gauteng takes a bold step in using technology to close loopholes and fight crime more effectively.

Listen to the full interview on Radio Islam International with Annisa Essack and Dr Sihle Sibaya from CSIR.