Number plate saga – embattled motorists not consulted

Sir,
The Department of Transport got the blessing of the provincial cabinet to go ahead with changing the number plates for all vehicles in KZN without approaching the people who will be most affected first, namely the motoring public of KZN.
The motivation is that it will increase the security surrounding motor vehicle registrations, that there are too many cars on our roads for the current system to carry, and that the change will bring about a break from the ‘colonial past’.
On all three counts, the department is left wanting; firstly, the change in Gauteng has not increased the security of registration as is witnessed by the proliferation of fake number plates to avoid e-toll charges. Secondly, there are many unused letters from the alphabet and sequences to accommodate the growth in the number of vehicles in KZN. And thirdly, it is an Alice in Wonderland reason that we will break from our colonial past if we change our number plates.
What the Department of Transport refused to answer is how much it will cost to introduce the new system, the implementation of it and the policing thereof.
These costs will be borne by the taxpayer indirectly, and all motor vehicle owners will have to bear the direct costs of replacing the plastic number plates with aluminium plates.
The department has embarked on the process and has invested a considerable amount of taxpayers’ money on designing policies and the type of number plates we will all be compelled to purchase.
The embattled motoring public has not been considered in these illustrious plans, and the presumption is that they will ‘just have to pay’.
Then comes news that the national Department of Transport is planning to implement number plates nationally with provincial identification. The costs will be borne by the taxpayers indirectly and motorists directly.
We still have to see if they will have the courage to engage the public in all provinces to get these changes adopted.The DA in KZN considers these moves an attempt to deflect attention away from the inadequate policing of the present system by the department, and urges the department to shelve the plans permanently and focus on implementing the rules of the road for all road users, starting from top politicians and officials down.
Furthermore, the people have the right to have their say in matters that affect them, and we insist that the public is consulted before any scheme is foisted on them.
Radley Keys MPP – DA KZN Spokesperson on Transport