The new number-plate system proposed for Gauteng was given a thumbs-up by the Committee for Active Road Safety (Cars) on Friday.
Provincial minister for public transport, roads and works Ignatius Jacobs announced in his budget speech this year that all vehicle owners would have to change their number plates from January 1 2008.
The new system was linked to the province’s crime-reduction strategy, featuring security mechanisms linking each vehicle to its owner and accrediting all number-plate manufacturers and owners, he said.
Cars welcomed the fixing of number plates to vehicles using security screws or pop rivets, saying motorists removing their plates were a ”worrying tendency”.
”The growing trend of motorists removing their number plates is a worrying tendency that displays a lack of respect for the law and a clear intent to transgress traffic laws,” said Cars chairperson Ian Auret.
”This unfortunate practice contributes to vehicle crime and plays a major role in aggravating our law-enforcement pattern with regard to traffic supervision and control,” he said.
He said the new system would require ”strict policing and vigorous implementation of the law”.
”It would be a very positive step if the introduction of the new regulations could be implemented without unnecessary delay.”
Johannesburg metro police spokesperson Wayne Minnaar said his department would be ready to enforce the changes once the system was in place.
The Transport Department said in a statement that consultation to get the number-plate system off the ground was still under way.
Its spokesperson, Alfred Nhlapo, was not immediately available for comment.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance criticised the new system, saying there remained some key questions unanswered regarding who the department was consulting with and why key players in the industry were being left out of the consultation process. — Sapa