KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport set to introduce new License plates [Know Why Here]

The KZN Department of Transport is planning to issue new license plates to motorists and commercial drivers.

This was made known by MEC Sipho Hlomuka during a routine inspection of a temporary facility at the Goble Roaqd vehicle licensing office in Durban on Tuesday.

During the examination, Mr Hlomuka stated that the numbering system has a limit, and some places in the province have hit this limit.

Hlomuka said Empangeni they have exhausted their numbers. They were called Natal Richards Bay (NRB), but they are going to use NUF (Natal Umfolozi), and they are not residing in Umfolozi.

“We want to change it to be like other provinces, where it will only say KZN,” he said.

MEC Sipho Hlomuka during the inspection in Durban. Image: Twitter/@KZNTransport.

It is not yet clear how long the process will take but Hlomuka said an announcement will be made soon.

In December 2022, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi announced that the province will roll out new vehicle licence plates in 2023.

One of the forensic reports, which the Department of Transport commissioned, dealt with alleged fraud and maladministration at Gauteng Drivers Licencing Testing Centres (DLTC).

Fraudulent optometrist certificates

Fee dumping (Fee dumping is the practice of applicants with arrears who apply for vehicle license renewal being allowed to proceed and what they owe in arrears is dumped to other accounts, including the accounts of deceased persons).

Collusion between examiners, applicants and driving schools

Lifestyle audits – assets not commensurate with salaries

Expired service level agreements (SLAs) between the Gauteng

Lesufi said the province wants to overhaul the entire licencing regime and put stricter measures in place. The Premier referred to motor vehicles as being critical in fighting crimes like hijacking and robberies, as these crimes are often committed using stolen vehicles.