South African motorists may soon no longer need to display vehicle licence discs on their windscreens as the Road Traffic Management Corporation advances plans for a discless system based on electronic verification and number plate recognition technology.
South African motorists could soon see significant changes to the vehicle licensing system as the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) moves towards replacing physical licence discs with electronic verification.
RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane confirmed that the transition forms part of a broader policy direction adopted by the corporation. However, he stressed that physical licence discs will remain in use until detailed implementation plans are finalised and an official rollout is announced.
“This is a policy direction that the RTMC has adopted. Physical [licence discs] will continue until detailed announcements are made. Fraud and corruption investigations will continue,” Zwane told IOL.
The proposed system would use number plate recognition technology and digital databases to verify a vehicle’s registration status, eliminating the need for licence discs to be displayed on windscreens.
