Money doesn't grow on trees': Durban residents slam mandatory number plate replacement by December 1

DURBAN motorists have expressed frustration as mandatory number plate changes add financial pressure during already challenging economic times.

- MONISHKA GOVENDER

Motorists have questioned the timing and necessity of the government initiative while basic services and infrastructure remain neglected.

This comes as the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport (KZN DoT) has urged all motorists in the province to replace their vehicle number plates with the new provincial format by November 30.

The DoT said the transition was necessary because the old town-specific coding system was running out of available number combinations.

The new format — two letters, two digits and two letters followed by “ZN” — was first introduced in December 2023, with a two-year grace period for motorists to migrate.

From December 1, all old-style number plates would be considered invalid under the National Road Traffic Act, and motorists who failed to comply may face fines or other enforcement action.

However, motorists have argued that the migration was an unnecessary financial burden at a time when households were already struggling amid rising living expenses.

Saisha Rathilal, from Phoenix, said: "I want to ask the ANC government why I should spend my hard-earned money on something unnecessary, like changing my car number plates.

"I got my number plate legally, not through bribery or corruption, so why should I change it? My parents told me how the ANC made money off people when the card licences became law. My car is in excellent condition, are the roads in the same excellent condition?