Migration to new ‘ZN’ number plate to begin in December

These ZN numbers are not like personalised plates where you write your choice. These are going to be like

NP, ND, NUF in payment, they are just computerised not to your choice or city, it’s a one-size-fits-all. The good thing is that even if you are out of your vicinity, car hijackers will not spot you as an outsider

Just a money-making decision. Why does everyone need new plates with ZN behind it? New registered vehicles can have it from December

WHILE KZN is forging ahead with migrating to the new 'ZN' number plates, the question on the lips of many Zululanders is, at whose cost?

The provincial executive council last week said the migration would begin on 1 December and KZN motorists would have 24 months to move to the new system.

The urgency to change the current system is said to have been necessitated by the depletion of numbers depicting three letters, such as NRB, NPN and NPS.

The council, however, emphasised that this process must not have an unnecessary financial burden on motorists and must consider the participation of the local manufacturers in the value chain.

Transport, Community

Safety and Liaison MEC Sipho Hlomuka has been tasked with fast-tracking the public consultations through the issuing of government gazettes.

There are further plans to engage motorists about these changes and the benefits thereof, which the government says will ‘assist in the fight against crime and create a common sense of identity for the province’.

As of April this year, the City of uMhlathuze ceased issuing NRB plates, with new vehicle registrations being issued under NUF.

The NRB licence mark depleted on the eNaTIS system as a result of a steady growth in the motor licensing population in the Richards Bay area.

This as the Department of Transport was still seeking necessary approvals from the KZN Cabinet to migrate from the current ‘discreet licence numbering system’ to the ‘continuous licence numbering system'.

The pending move to 'ZN' plates has, however, sparked concern among motorists both in the region and across the province, with some in favour of the shift and others unsure about the financial implications.

The process must not have an ‘unnecessary financial burden on motorists’. Do we correctly assume from this that the cost of removing number plates (which in terms of law must be riveted to the vehicle), replacing the number plate holders and having new number plates made will be deductible from the annual vehicle licensing fees? If not, there is most definitely an ‘unnecessary financial burden on motorists’

- Felix Lucky Mazibuko

We love our N plates and knowing where everyone is from! Now when you are visiting another province you won’t know if someone is from your hometown

- Belinda Dunford

People don’t have money to waste. Please rethink and postpone. People are already struggling to make ends meet

- Denice van Zyl

- Debs Lücke