Gauteng’s upcoming high-tech number plate recognition system aimed at improving crime prevention has raised serious privacy and security concerns among experts.

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Nathan-Ross Adams, founder and managing director at ITLawCo, cautioned during an interview with Cape Talk that the system could be dangerous if the sensitive data it collects ends up in the wrong hands.

“Depending on how it’s actually captured and used, it could result in harm to various people,” Adams explained. “When you enter shopping centres, gated communities, or toll booths, your vehicle registration details are logged at multiple points.”

While the system’s intention is to assist law enforcement, Adams warned it can also be exploited if not managed responsibly.

Real-Life Example Highlights the Risk

To illustrate the potential dangers, Adams referenced a case in Europe where an individual gained unauthorized access to a number plate tracking system during a domestic violence dispute.

“They were stalking their partner by tracking their movements over several months where they shopped, the times they got home. It was a complete invasion of privacy and put their safety at serious risk,” he said.

He stressed that the core issue lies in who has access to the data and how it is controlled, noting that South Africans have a constitutional right to privacy.

“We’re guaranteed it under our constitution, and so we should be able to decide what happens with our data,” Adams added.

Government’s Plan for Province-Wide Rollout

Currently, the new number plate recognition system is being used on Gauteng government vehicles, with the Department of Transport planning a full rollout across the province by December 2025.

Premier Panyaza Lesufi first announced the initiative in February 2023, saying the tamper-proof plates would help curb crimes involving undocumented and cloned vehicles.

“Fraudulent number plates and cars without proper documentation are at the centre of crime in our province, especially kidnappings, robberies, and rented murder,” Lesufi stated.

Rising Cost Concerns

Civil rights organisation AfriForum has raised questions about the financial impact of the project on motorists. In August 2025, the group filed a request for cost details after the provincial Department of Transport failed to provide clarity through a Protection of Access to Information Act (PAIA) application.

“AfriForum insists that the provincial department must disclose the proposed cost and associated re-registration costs of these number plates,” said campaign manager Louis Boshoff.

With over 3.5 million vehicles in Gauteng, an estimated seven million plates will need to be manufactured. However, no official pricing has been released.

Mandatory Re-registration

Lesufi has confirmed that once the system goes live, all vehicle owners in Gauteng will be required to re-register their cars. “Everyone must register their vehicle … if you spend 30 consecutive days in Gauteng, it means your car must be registered in Gauteng,” he said.

This statement has been met with pushback from the South African Vehicle Rental Leasing and Fleet Management Association, which disputes the legal basis for forcing out-of-province vehicles to re-register.

Currently, it costs R216 to register a new vehicle, plus R408 for a new licence disc and a R72 administration fee. A new set of number plates currently costs between R400 and R500, but the upgraded plates will likely exceed R1,000, placing additional financial pressure on motorists.

A Balancing Act Between Safety and Privacy

While authorities view the number plate recognition system as a powerful tool against crime, experts and civil groups warn that without strict safeguards, the same system could endanger the very people it’s meant to protect.

The coming months will be crucial in determining how the province addresses privacy, cost transparency, and the legal implications of mandatory re-registration.