SA’s Lesufi calls on SADC to create a new database for cars 

By Ntombi Mhlongo
 
As a means of combating crime, Gauteng premier, Panyaza Lesufi, has called on Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries to create a new database of all vehicles within the region, to have a common verification platform.

He said this when delivering his provincial speech on Tuesday morning. Lesufi said to strengthen the fight against crime, there was a need to revamp the current legislation on three crucial areas which are the registration of cars because cars are a common denominator in violent crimes; either stolen or getaway vehicles, elimination of illegal guns and the need to migrate the province to use less cash in the business transactions.

He mentioned that the current number plates system is running out of numeric and letters which provided the need to take advantage of this situation to introduce new, hard-to-copy and tamper number plates.

“As we speak, we have issued the Government Gazette on the February 17, 2023, for consultation and comments on new security features. This new system will also assist in managing the abuse of temporary number plates. We call upon SADC to create a new database of all vehicles within the region so that we can have a common verification platform,” he said.

He highlighted that his government has also issued strict instructions to law enforcement agencies to pull off those who continue to drive cars without number plates or fraudulent temporary permits. 

This, he said, was because the abuse of fake blue lights is on the increase.

“A special unit to eliminate this phenomenon is being assembled. Those with illegal guns are now playing God. They decide who lives and who dies. Together with the private security industry, we have found a solution that will assist in tracking stolen guns and locating them wherever they are in our country. We will firstly migrate our law enforcement agencies’ guns in this system than members of the public,” he emphasised.