Johannesburg – Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has launched a new high-tech number plate system aimed at improving vehicle traceability and curbing crime on the province’s roads.
Unveiled at the Nasrec Expo Centre on Thursday, the tamper-proof plates feature advanced security elements, including forensic QR codes, tamper-evident decals, and full integration with a digital back-end portal. Developed in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the system is part of a broader digital transformation of traffic enforcement.
“We are abandoning outdated methods and embracing modern tools in the fight against crime,” said Lesufi. “Anyone using fraudulent or duplicate number plates will no longer be able to operate freely on our roads.”
A six-month pilot using g-Fleet vehicles will precede the province-wide rollout. The test phase aims to validate the durability, traceability, and security of the plates before full implementation.
Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, said the initiative is a key part of the Provincial Integrated Crime Prevention Strategy. “These smart plates will reduce vehicle cloning, the trafficking of stolen vehicles, and the use of falsified plates. This is about dismantling criminal networks and restoring law and order.”
To support the initiative, 96 traffic officers from the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) have been deployed to bolster road enforcement efforts across the province.
“These officers will enhance visibility on our roads, help manage taxi-related violence at hotspots, and promote safer driving behaviour,” Diale-Tlabela added.
The smart number plate project marks a significant step in Gauteng’s ongoing efforts to integrate technology into crime prevention and traffic regulation.
