Civil rights group AfriForum has intensified pressure on the Gauteng Department of Transport to provide clarity on the province’s new number plates scheme, demanding transparency on costs, timelines, and the rationale behind the rollout.
AfriForum Pushes for Transparency
AfriForum lodged an internal appeal with the provincial transport department after it failed to respond to a Protection of Access to Information Act (PAIA) application within the required 30-day period.
The organisation wants the department to reveal the projected cost of manufacturing millions of new number plates, as well as the re-registration expenses that motorists will face. It also demands clarity on how much time vehicle owners will be given to replace their current plates.
According to AfriForum campaign manager Louis Boshoff, Gauteng has more than 3.5 million registered vehicles, meaning the province will need to produce around seven million new plates.
“The Premier wants to have these plates manufactured, but he refuses to disclose the cost. This is unacceptable,” Boshoff said.
Safety Benefits Questioned
Premier Panyaza Lesufi has argued that the new tamper-proof number plates will strengthen law enforcement’s ability to fight crime, particularly car-related offences like kidnappings, robberies, and contract killings.
But AfriForum questions whether new plates will have any real impact on crime.
“As long as criminals can drive around without number plates, no amount of plate upgrades will matter,” Boshoff said. “The real solution lies in stronger law enforcement, not gimmicks.”
The rollout of the new scheme began in June 2025 with provincial government vehicles, following a pilot phase in the 2024/25 financial year. The department plans to extend the programme to all vehicles in Gauteng by December 2025.
Lesufi first announced the initiative during his 2023 State of the Province Address, saying it would curb fraudulent plates and undocumented vehicles that are often linked to organised crime.
Costs Could Top R1,000 Per Vehicle
One of the biggest concerns revolves around affordability.
Currently, registering a new vehicle in Gauteng costs R216, while a licence disc costs a minimum of R408, excluding a R72 administration fee. Number plates themselves typically range between R400 and R500 per set, depending on the provider.
However, the enhanced features of the new plates are expected to drive prices higher, with full re-registration potentially costing motorists over R1,000.
The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) has warned that these costs could have unintended consequences. CEO Wayne Duvenage cautioned that expensive re-registration might push large fleet operators to register vehicles outside Gauteng, leading to a loss of provincial revenue.
Disputed Legal Basis
Lesufi has insisted that every vehicle owner in Gauteng will need to reregister and obtain a new registration number, even if their vehicle is already legally licensed elsewhere in the country. He added that motorists who spend more than 30 consecutive days in Gauteng would also have to re-register.
But the South African Vehicle Rental Leasing and Fleet Management Association (Savral) disputes this interpretation, arguing that the National Road Traffic Act does not support such requirements.
For now, Gauteng motorists remain in the dark about how much they will have to pay, when exactly they will need to change their plates, and whether the initiative will genuinely reduce crime.
Until the provincial government provides full transparency, AfriForum and other critics say the scheme risks being seen as yet another costly burden on motorists rather than a meaningful step toward safer roads.
Related article: AfriForum Demands Transparency on Costs of New Gauteng Licence Plate System
