As of early next year, Gauteng motorists are to display a third "smart" number plate on their vehicles' rear windows.
The provincial Department of Public Transport, Roads and Works has already launched a pilot project to test the new intelligent number plate system.
According to Gauteng transport department spokesman Alfred Nhlapo, a number validation label will be placed in the rear window of vehicles and will include a bar code that traffic authorities will be able to scan.
It is hoped the system will curb what the department calls "vehicle cloning", where standard number plates are fraudulently duplicated and registered, or where fraudulent vehicle registration documents are issued.
In addition, Nhlapo says: "The new numbering process would also present more options for the province, which is running out of number combinations.
"Full-scale implementation is scheduled for 1 January 2008." Nhlapo adds that motorists would not be charged extra for the new plates.
The new plate system was first announced by MEC Ignatius Jacobs in his budget speech in June and approved by the Committee for Active Road Safety, in August. The committee called for the programme to be implemented as soon as possible.
The system allows for manufacturers of number plates to be accredited and the department has already started talks with stakeholders.
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