HARDLY after launching new number plates to fight crime in the province, three suspects were shot dead along the popular Sandton Drive on Thursday afternoon, who had robbed a house.
The launch of the new licence plate system, which will run for six months before rolling out across the province, was unveiled by the Premier Panyaza Lesufi, at Nasrec, that will host the G20 Summit at the end of the year.
The new-high tech plates are fitted with a QR code, track and trace feature for vehicle identification and registration, and a tamper-evident security decal which prevents cloning.
The new plates were created to mainly fight crime, warned Lesufi, who was accompanied by the MEC for Transport Kedibone Diale- Tlabela.
“About 85% of the crimes committed in Gauteng, a motor vehicle is involved – either as a getaway car, or it is stolen, or the registration is cloned. If we have to fight crime, we have to overhaul the car registration system,” said Lesufi.
Diale-Tlabela said the rollout of the plates will start after six months. “We are still at trial and testing process to check all the features and cost implications and we will then know if motorists will have to pay more for the new plates.”
Previously, Premier Lesufi said the change to new plates would help the province as it was running out of numeric and alphabetic combinations and would this as an opportunity to overhaul the system.
But this exercise will come with huge cost implications.
Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) identified that high administrative costs associated with the new system, will be borne by motorists as economy becomes unbearable.
According to the provincial government, the plates will not only address crime but also help with revenue collection, regulation of roadworthiness and insurance, and provide data for planning and policymaking.
Meanwhile, the Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety commends law enforcement officers across the province for their dedication, resilience, and hard work, which have contributed to a notable reduction in crime during the fourth quarter of the 2024/25 financial year (January – March 2025).
According to the latest crime statistics presented to the Committee by Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Tommy Mthombeni, on Thursday, 5 June, Gauteng recorded a 7.9% decrease (8,393 fewer cases) in the 17 community-reported serious crimes compared to the same period in the previous financial year.
This represents a significant step forward in the province’s ongoing efforts to combat crime.
The Committee is particularly encouraged by the 10.8% reduction in murder cases, which reflects the continued commitment of law enforcement agencies and the effectiveness of collaborative crime prevention strategies.
However, the Committee remains deeply concerned about the ongoing occurrence of multiple murder incidents, which continue to devastate communities.
During the reporting period, Gauteng experienced two particularly disturbing incidents, each resulting in seven fatalities:
In Soshanguve, at the Marry Me Informal Settlement, a violent altercation reportedly erupted between community patrollers and some security company.
The victims were stoned, shot, and partially burned. The Committee commends the swift response by the South African Police Service and the Hawks, who promptly arrested the alleged perpetrators.
In Kagiso, suspects set fire to four vehicles, a shack, and a spaza shop before indiscriminately opening fire on residents. Seven individuals (six men and one woman) were found dead with gunshot wounds, and three others were injured.
These incidents highlight the urgent need for intensified interventions and intelligence-led policing in high-risk areas.
In line with the government’s stance that “crime has no colour in our country,” the Committee also notes a reported farm murder during the period. In this case, an African male was killed during a robbery in which livestock—including cows, goats, and sheep—were stolen. Such acts of violence are unacceptable in any context.
The Committee is gravely alarmed by the continued killing of police officers. Eleven officers lost their lives during the quarter—one while on duty and ten off-duty. The Committee strongly condemns these attacks, emphasizing that violence against law enforcement is an attack on the state and the safety of all citizens.
Encouragingly, incidents of sexual violence declined by 2.1%. While this decrease is acknowledged, the Committee stresses that more must be done to significantly reduce such crimes and to protect the dignity and safety of women and children across Gauteng.
The 8.9% reduction in robbery with aggravating circumstances is another positive development. However, the Committee is increasingly concerned about the 15.8% rise in kidnapping cases. These are often linked to hijackings, robbery, ransom demands, extortion, and human trafficking. The safety and freedom of movement of Gauteng residents must be protected with urgency.
The Committee applauds the success of crime-fighting initiatives such as Operation Shanela, which resulted in the arrest of 28,851 suspects, including 8,110 undocumented foreign nationals. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of coordinated and sustained enforcement operations.
While the Committee welcomes the progress made, it emphasizes that this is only the beginning. Gauteng must continue to intensify efforts to eradicate criminal activity and build safe, resilient communities where every resident can live free from fear and violence.
Image (Premier of Gauteng Panyaza and MEC for Transport, Kedibone Diale- Tlabela, recorded at the unveiling of new high tech number plates on Thursday, at Nasrec).
