A Safer South Africa
Through legal number plates
“Integrity today.
Safer roads tomorrow.”– Jan de Lange
Safer roads tomorrow.”– Jan de Lange
Representing SABS-certified number plate embossers across South Africa. We advance SANS 1116 compliance, confront illegal number plates, and engage DTIC, the Department of Transport and SABS on industry regulation — so every plate tells a verifiable story.
Number plates manufactured across South Africa every month.
Estimated share LAZA believes may be produced illegally.
Legally SABS-certified embossers currently operating nationwide.
Decode province letters, formats and embossing marks at a glance.
Sizes, colour rules and character limits, province by province.
The certified process, from registration document to fitted plate.
The marks a genuine SABS-certified plate always carries.
Cloned and illegal plates make vehicles used in crime almost impossible to trace through roadside camera networks. LAZA works with regulators and law enforcement to close the gap between the 780 certified embossers and the estimated 500 operating outside the law.
LAZA is the national association for legally registered number plate embossers. Our members manufacture plates under SANS 1116 and hold valid SABS permits — the standard South Africa relies on for vehicle identification integrity.
Genuine plates carry SABS certification marks and embosser identification. We support members who meet these standards and help the public recognise legal manufacture.
Unregistered and cloned plates undermine policing and road safety. Report suspected fake plates or illegal embossers through our public reporting channel.
LAZA engages the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), the Department of Transport, SABS and related bodies on fair enforcement and a lawful embosser market.
SABS-certified embossers can join LAZA, access membership records, and download verifiable membership certificates from the member portal.
A South African plate encodes more than a registration number the letters, spacing and colour all mean something.
LL — two letters. The opening letter block is assigned in issue order, not tied to a specific town since the 1997 format change.
11 — two digits, the sequential number block.
LL — two more letters, closing the series.
GP — province suffix. Every plate must end in a two-letter provincial code.
Nearly 400 plate variations exist across South Africa's nine provinces. Here's how the current formats compare.
| Province | Suffix | Example | Personalised limit | Material rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gauteng | GP | DTS 24 GP | 7 characters | Metal plate required since 2013 |
| Western Cape | WP / CA | CA 24-747 | 7 characters | Metal or plastic |
| KwaZulu-Natal | NP / ND | ND 45-112 | 7 characters | Metal or plastic |
| Eastern Cape | EC | CFX 190 EC | 6 characters | Metal or plastic |
| Free State | FS | CDF 220 FS | 6 characters | Metal or plastic |
| Limpopo | L | BDX 687 L | 6 characters | Metal or plastic |
| Mpumalanga | MP | HJK 310 MP | 6 characters | Metal or plastic |
| North West | NW | JLP 402 NW | 6 characters | Metal or plastic |
| Northern Cape | NC | FRT 501 NC | 6 characters | Metal or plastic |
Swipe horizontally to view all columns.
Investigations, press coverage and industry updates. Open any story for the full article.
Fraudsters are sending fake AARTO fines to collect payments from motorists. This report explains how the scam works and how to tell a genuine notice from a fake one.
Read article →
A practical look at new driving and enforcement rules rolling out across 151 municipalities, and what they mean for road users.
Read article →
Police confirm three suspects were fatally wounded in an Alrode shootout, with local crime reporting following the incident.
Read article →
VF Plus reports that the minister has upheld its appeal in a matter involving a business and the Gauteng Department of Transport.
Read article →
Cape Town is targeting high-end vehicles fitted with illegal or cloned number plates as part of a wider enforcement drive.
Read article →
Watch the Carte Blanche investigation into cloned and illegal number plates, and why they make vehicles used in crime harder to trace.
Watch coverage →
New plate designs remain on hold while a court case over alleged cartel conduct in the number plate industry is still underway.
Read article →
A preview of the Carte Blanche programme focusing on cloned plates and the risk they pose on South African roads.
Read article →
AfriForum welcomes the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport’s decision to pause the new plate system while the number-plate cartel case is still before the Competition Tribunal.
Read article →
Jan de Lange tells CapeTalk that of about 250,000 plates made each month, more than half may be illegal — and thieves simply buy any number they want from unregistered operators.
Read article →
LAZA’s president explains how embossing works, why blanks and machines must stay with SABS-certified shops, and how three manufacturers still feed the illegal trade.
Watch interview →
A Business Day investigation found Joburg shops issuing plates from a number written on paper — no ID, no licence, no registration. Jan de Lange and the DA call for action at source.
Watch video →
Reporters bought cloned plates in minutes at three Johannesburg businesses. LAZA says illegal embossers undermine vehicle identification and make crime harder to trace.
Read article →
Toby Chance MP asks three ministers to set up an inter-ministerial task team. LAZA’s figures: about 250,000 plates a month, with up to 60% possibly illegal.
Read statement →
The Competition Commission is prosecuting Uniplate, NNPR and Unique Number Plate for alleged price-fixing of blanks, including a R10 surcharge on plates sold in KwaZulu-Natal.
Read article →
The Competition Commission says the three blank manufacturers allegedly agreed prices and trading conditions, including a R10 surcharge on blanks sold in KwaZulu-Natal.
Read post →
LAZA alleges SABS failed to enforce SANS 1116, denied access to audit records, and allowed quality failures such as watermark issues and easy-to-copy permit decals.
Read article →
The association says SABS oversight has failed while a ministerial corruption probe is underway. SABS replies that plates are regulated by the Department of Transport.
Read article →Cloned and illegal number plates were the subject of a Carte Blanche investigation. Watch the coverage below.
Give us the details below and our team will follow up.
A message from Jan De Lange, National Director of LAZA.
Dear Esteemed Embossers,
Allow me to extend a warm greeting and provide an introduction to my role. I am Jan De Lange, an SABS-certified Embosser with a long-standing commitment to this industry, spanning back to 2002. My extensive experience has granted me a profound understanding of the intricacies within this field, including our interactions with various Government Departments. I place immense value on addressing the specific needs of embossers and am dedicated to assisting you in setting and achieving your business goals. I wholeheartedly embrace the exciting challenge of contributing to the growth and success of LAZA, and I have full confidence that your participation as embossers will benefit from my expertise.
In recent times, the Gauteng Government has taken significant steps by establishing the MNP Technical Committee, a body composed of various stakeholders, including Dot, NDot, CSIR, SABS, SANRAL, BACSA, RTMC, Manufacturers, and Embossers. It’s noteworthy that, through a closed ballot election initiated by Dot, I, alongside Ms. Amanda Steinhobel and Mr. Tumelo Moramotse, was elected by fellow embossers to represent the embossers’ community in Gauteng. The Government and SABS have warmly welcomed our initiative to establish an association representing embossers on a national level.
Our commitment to embossers’ rights is unwavering, and this is exemplified through the initiation of “LAZA” – the License Plate Association of South Africa. We remain committed to advocating for embossers even after the MNP Technical Committee’s scope concludes. Notably, the Gauteng Government is presently engaged in a comprehensive overhaul of the entire number plate and license industry. The Gauteng DOT and CSIR are collaboratively developing a prototype for a new securitized number plate system, intended for nationwide implementation.
Embossers have recently faced various concerns and risk factors. Notably, embossers received market announcements from all three manufacturers, indicating an immediate and substantial price increase. The extent of this increase was so significant that it effectively doubled the cost for embossers with immediate effect. Moreover, the prices offered by different suppliers are remarkably close to each other, leaving minimal room for discounts. Manufacturers have also established contractual restrictions, preventing embossers from sourcing products from competing suppliers. In addition, the embossing equipment supplied by these manufacturers is outdated and inefficient, posing a significant challenge for embossers. Daily losses are further exacerbated by errors during the embossing process and the production of spoiled plates. Furthermore, manufacturers have initiated their own embosser channels, directly competing against fellow embossers by offering lower prices. Disturbingly, manufacturers are supplying embossing equipment and blanks to unregistered “SABS” embossers, creating an uneven playing field.
To address these issues, we have taken action by communicating our concerns to the relevant authorities, including the MEC of Transport and the RMI, highlighting the ongoing uncompetitive conduct by manufacturers in the industry. We cordially invite all embossers nationwide to join our collective effort in fighting for embossers’ rights. Should you wish to be part of this initiative, please reply to president@lazanat.co.za. We are committed to assisting with any complaints you may have as we work together to make a difference.
Best regards,
Jan De Lange
National Director, LAZA
For embosser certification queries, media requests, or to report suspected illegal plate manufacturing.
