Chaos and confusion reign in Limpopo with regard to yet another change in the registration plates for vehicles in the province.

The introduction of the letter L (for Limpopo Province) instead of the existing N (for Northern Province) is accompanied by more drastic changes, with further long-term confusion potential.

The confusion is compounded by an apparent breakdown in communication between the Department of Roads and Transport and its communications directorate, due to a glaring lack of professional capacity in that directorate. An explanatory media statement promised by the department more than a week ago, was still not forthcoming at the time of going to press on Wednesday.

A spokesperson from the office of the MEC for Roads and Transport had to intervene this week in a desperate effort to clear up the continued unresolved confusion.

Local businessmen and traffic officials reacted with angry frustration towards what they termed the department’s irresponsible, one-sided action to proclaim regulations without any regard for the practical implementation thereof.

According to these role players, the introduction of the letter L on all number plates was due to be implemented from April 1 this year.

Efforts to obtain the new number plates, however, caused double trouble for those who were eager to oblige. New registrations could not be finalised, because the prescribed material for the new number plates was not available, forcing the owners to take out expensive temporary registration papers in the absence of suitable “permanent” number plates. Owners who wanted to renew their registration with the updated L number plate, discovered to their astonishment that an entirely new computerised registration number had to be issued, rendering their existing registration number null and void. Those who have renewed registration without the updating option, may soon find another vehicle driving around with an identical registration number, with merely an L instead of an N at the end.

Traffic officials were totally confused about the status of an L number plate engraved on the existing “old” material, which has a “Northern Province” inscription at the bottom.

Some sternly warned that such a number plate would be totally out of order, as a result of the outdated name.

Others differed and said the name at the bottom is totally irrelevant for law enforcement. Comments from officials ranged from: “You will definitely be fined” to “No court will convict you for having your registration engraved on the only available, perfectly lawful material.”

Several local businessmen confirmed this week that the new material has been totally unavailable to them up to now. “We were only advised at the beginning of this week that stocks will be available this week. We expect the very first deliveries towards the end of this week.” Another local businessman, however, said that he has new material in stock, which he managed to obtain.

The General Manager: Road Traffic and Safety, in the Department of Roads and Transport, Mr. Walter Sathekge, denied last week that there was any problem with the availability of the prescribed material for the new number plates. He emphasised, however, that all media statements are handled by the communications directorate and that a statement about the new number plates is in the process of being prepared. Asked about a specific time frame, he said “They are busy with it now. You can expect it within the next two hours.” That was Wednesday a week ago. Repeated later enquiries about the promised statement were unsuccessful.

Late on Tuesday afternoon this week,, a spokesperson from the Office of the MEC for Roads and Transport phoned to enquire about the newspaper’s enquiry. She once again declared that a “communiqué” is being prepared on the subject. Asked about an expected time frame, the spokesperson said “We will send it to you as soon as it becomes available.” Asked when this would be, she said “In due course.” She refused to be more specific. By Wednesday afternoon this week, there was still no sign of the media statement promised by both Mr. Mathekge from Road Traffic and Safety and by Me. Matshelani of the MEC’s Office. No senior official of the Communications Directorate was available to explain why a team of professional communicators should need more than 48 working hours to pass available information from a manager to the media.