AfriForum questions need for new Gauteng number plates
AfriForum has submitted a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) application to access details on the costs motorists will incur for Gauteng’s new number plates.
The application was made on Friday to Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and the provincial Department of Roads and Transport following a pilot project launch for the new number plates last week.
READ MORE: Gauteng pilots new high-security number plates
Lesufi said new number plates will assist with revenue collection, roadworthiness regulation, and insurance.
However, AfriForum’s campaign officer, Louis Boshoff, believes that the focus could instead be on improving law enforcement.
“Lesufi argues that the new number plates will play an important role in combating crime, but it is unclear whether this claim can be substantiated at all,” said Boshoff
He questioned the province’s priority, citing service delivery failures.
“Are the existing number plates really the problem that needs to be focused on right now? Centurion is full of sinkholes, Johannesburg is struggling without water and the substations in Pretoria are burning, but the Premier has decided it’s time for new number plates.”
“Many Gauteng residents are of the opinion that there is nothing wrong with their current number plates, which is why they now want to know whether they will have to pay for new number plates that may not make any significant contribution to their own safety,”
AfriForum has threatened to take more steps to oppose the implementation of the new number plate system if Gauteng Governments fails to answer all necessary questions relating to the system.
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