Gauteng was expected to introduce new number plates this year, yet the provincial government has remained quiet on the project’s progress as the anticipated April 2025 launch date nears.

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Notably absent from Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s State of the Province Address (SOPA) on Monday, 24 February 2025, the number plate project has not seen any major updates since November 2024. This lack of communication has led to speculation regarding potential further delays, especially given the project’s history of missed deadlines.

Uncertainty Over Gauteng New Number Plates Implementation

The initiative to introduce technologically advanced number plates in Gauteng dates back to 2023, when Lesufi first announced the plan. Initially, the rollout was scheduled for the end of that year. However, the project has repeatedly been postponed, failing to meet multiple government-set deadlines.

Timeline of Delays

The new number plates were originally slated for unveiling in April 2024, yet nearly a year later, there has been no public launch. The most recent development came in November 2024, when the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) confirmed that Transport Minister Barbara Creecy had approved an exemption allowing provincial government vehicles to use the new plates despite existing regulations. This exemption was meant to facilitate a controlled pilot phase before wider public implementation.

Pilot Phase and Project Hopes

According to the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport, this trial phase was expected to run until the end of the current financial year. The department’s 2023/2024 report stated that stakeholders would be involved in piloting the new number plate system during the 2024/25 financial year. Based on this timeline, the pilot should conclude by 31 March 2025, paving the way for a full-scale rollout soon after.

Concerns Over Costs and Implementation

Questions also remain regarding the implementation process and financial impact on motorists. Lesufi previously indicated that the new system would require all vehicle owners in Gauteng to re-register their vehicles. “We are starting afresh, all of us; every person that has a car must re-register and get a new registration number that cannot be copied and is reliable so that we know what is happening in our province,” he stated.

Potential for Further Delays

This approach has drawn criticism from the Organization Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa), which has cautioned the GPG against making the new plates costly or cumbersome to obtain. Outa has warned that increased expenses could drive fleet operators to register their vehicles in other provinces, ultimately leading to revenue losses for Gauteng.

A Delayed Future?

With the April 2025 deadline fast approaching and no recent updates from the provincial government, uncertainty continues to loom over the fate of Gauteng’s new number plates. Given the project’s track record of delays, many are questioning whether it will meet its latest target or be postponed yet again. For now, motorists and industry stakeholders alike await clarity on when, and at what cost, the new system will finally be implemented.