KwaZulu-Natal motorists can legally purchase personalised 4-digit license plates for R2,000, but authorities warn against illegal online scams.
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KwaZulu-Natal motorists have been given a rare opportunity to legally purchase highly sought-after four-digit personalised license numbers for a flat rate of R2,000. However, provincial authorities have issued stern warnings regarding illegal online scams.
The MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, issued a public statement on Tuesday outlining the specific rollout dates and venues where motorists can officially secure these limited plates. The sales will take place on a strict first-come, first-served basis, specifically catering to residents of Pietermaritzburg and Durban in the initial phase.
The official dates and locations are:
To prevent administrative disputes and cut out middlemen, the MEC emphasized that applicants must physically appear at the venues to secure their numbers. Furthermore, purchases are strictly capped at one personalized registration number per customer due to the highly limited stock available.
Motorists will need to bring along a copy of their ID and proof of address. The official application forms to reserve the numbers will be provided directly at the venues.
Alongside the announcement, Duma issued a fierce warning to the public to stay away from individuals purporting to sell personalised vehicle license plates on social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp.
"We wish to warn motorists to refrain from purchasing personalised vehicle license plate numbers via social media platforms. As stated in the past, this practice is illegal and in violation of the National Road Traffic Act," Duma warned.
The MEC clarified that provincial law dictates that only his office holds the mandate to establish and run a personalised license number system in KwaZulu-Natal. "I delegated this function to the Motor Transport Service’s Choice Numbers Section, which remains the only section authorised to sell personalised license numbers in the province," Duma added.
Authorities also noted a strict condition attached to the legal purchase: any motorist who buys a number through the department must sign an acknowledgment form confirming that the registration number will be relinquished back to the MEC if it is no longer required, preventing the legal numbers from being flipped on the secondary black market.
For motorists living outside the two major economic hubs, Duma indicated that the department is actively searching for more available four-digit combinations to extend the sale to residents in Empangeni and Ladysmith in the near future.
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