Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has officially launched a new tamper-proof, high-tech number plate system aimed at enhancing vehicle traceability and curbing criminal activity on the province’s roads.
Unveiled on Thursday, 5 June, at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg, the new intelligent number plates feature tamper-evident decals, forensic QR codes, and a fully digitised backend system. The initiative, developed in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), is a key component of Gauteng’s broader strategy to modernise law enforcement tools and improve road safety.
“We are moving away from outdated methods of combating crime,” said Premier Lesufi. “With this digital system, we can account for every vehicle on the road. Fraudulent and duplicate plates will no longer go unnoticed.”
The new system will first be tested through a six-month pilot project using g-Fleet vehicles before a province-wide rollout. Authorities aim to enhance the integrity of number plates and enable full tracking from production to the vehicle owner.
Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, emphasized that the project supports the Provincial Integrated Crime Prevention Strategy and strengthens regulatory compliance.
“By collaborating with law enforcement, metro police, and private stakeholders, we are making significant strides in vehicle identification and traceability,” she said. “These smart plates will disrupt criminal networks by reducing vehicle cloning, the movement of stolen vehicles, and the use of fake plates.”
The system is expected to be a powerful tool in improving traffic law enforcement and restoring order on Gauteng’s roads.
