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Gauteng will have new number plates next year.
This comes two years after the provincial government announced that new number plates would be replacing the current plates.
Bheki Nkosi, MEC for roads and transport, said in Johannesburg on Tuesday that the number plates will come into effect on January 1, 2010.
His predecessor, Ignatius Jacobs, had already promised in June 2007 that the province would get new number plates, due to the fact that the province's numbers were running out.
"We have no more numbers left," said Nkosi.
Public comment
According to him, the regulations regarding the new number plates are being finalised, and the public will be given the opportunity to comment on the matter.
The new number plates will include a small identity plate which can broadcast radio frequencies.
The provincial government believes this will help curb car theft.
Nkosi said they will be ready to begin with the preparation and installation of the new number plates by December.
Licences can be renewed at post offices
Meanwhile, vehicle owners can renew their vehicle licences at any of the 74 post offices in the province. Nkosi's department has recently closed an agreement with the South African Postal Service.
Post offices in eight municipalities across the province will provide the renewal service.
"Post offices have longer working hours, and are also open over weekends, which makes it easier for the public," he said.
There are 26 post offices in Johannesburg and 21 in Pretoria where bikers can renew motorcycle licenses. Post offices in the Merafong, Randfontein, Ekurhuleni, Emfuleni, Mogale City and Kungwini municipalities also provide this service.
Nkosi said his department is considering expanding the project, and in future possibly supply more services at post offices.
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Aston Martin Vantage Hellvellyn Frost by MW Design
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Canadian tuners MWDesign + Technik have turned their eyes to the Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Their model, dubbed the Helvellyn Frost, is painted in a cool, matte white color meant to reflect the English Mountain Range from which Aston gets its name.
The engineers have designed new aerodynamics and performance enhancements in an attempt to improve on an already lauded car. The design package includes new bodywork, new fascias, and other body panels in carbon fiber, all of which fit into the spirit of the original vehicle. Now the car also sits on black Modulare M14 20-inch wheels that look superb on the white vehicle, especially with the frost white Brembo brake callipers.
Under the hood, the company added a polished RSC Vantage-C Powerkit which extends to a new exhaust. The 279kW engine was retuned to output a much more serious 327kW.
Already beautiful to begin with, the redesigned car is absolutely hot. Check out the press release for the full details.
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Kicherer E-Class Revealed
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German tuner Kicherer has released some photos and more details on its tuning package for the Mercedes E-Class W212 but performance numbers are still to be made available.
Using an E-Class outfitted with an AMG sports package, the vehicle features the tuner's very own in-house manufactured 20-inch aluminum wheels - forged in three parts. Constructed of carbon fiber the body aerodynamics include a new front spoiler, rear spoiler, rear skirt and mirror covers.
Kicherer suggests there will also be a lowering of the suspension as part of the performance tuning. A sport exhaust system with those very visible split twin pipes sitting under the rear bumper will likely help boost performance too.
Engine tuning will include improvement of the electronic management by means of Kicherer's PowerConverter technology which allows for a faster and more sensitive response from the engine during acceleration.
We await further performance and pricing details from the German tuner.
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Alfa MiTo Quadrifoglio Verde with 125kW
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Alfa Romeo has announced plans to introduce the MiTo Quadrifoglio Verde (four-leaf clover) at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
Destined to become the sportiest MiTo, the Quadrifoglio Verde features a 125kW 1.4-liter MultiAir turbo engine Backed up by a new six-speed C635 gearbox, which has been specially designed to deliver quick changes and improved fuel efficiency, the hot hatch will offer a thrilling driving experience. Speaking of fuel efficiency, the Quadrifoglio Verde consumes just 4.8L/100 km while emitting 139 g/km of CO2 (in the extra-urban cycle).
To give the MiTo a ride worthy of the Quadrifoglio Verde badge, Alfa added a Dynamic Suspension system with continuously variable shock absorbers. The system offers three different modes (Normal, All Weather, and Dynamic), so drivers can custom tailor the ride to fit their particular needs.
In terms of styling, the Quadrifoglio Verde receives a discrete four-leaf clover decal on the fender as well as a satin titanium finish applied to headlight frames, wing mirrors, and 17-inch wheels.
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Replace K53, says traffic boss
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A new system has to be found to replace the "ineffective" K53 driver testing method, the head of the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) said on Tuesday.
Ranthoko Rakgoale told Parliament's portfolio committee on transport that "no one really applied" the techniques taught by the K53 system.
"When you drive, you don't do all those things," he said.
"We are subjecting people to something we don't even monitor. This is an ineffective system."
Rakgoale said an effective solution needed to be found to reduce South Africa's high rate of road fatalities.
According to an RTMC report there were 12 011 fatal crashes in South Africa in 2007, compared to 12 456 the year before.
There was a total of 14 920 road fatalities in 2007.
The RTMC said around 7 000 road users are left disabled and 40 000 are seriously injured in road accidents each year.
Second largest cause of death in SA
The World Bank has said that should nothing effective be done, road crashes will become the second largest cause of deaths in South Africa by 2020.
Rakgoale also told the committee that high numbers of South African vehicles were found to be carrying false number plates.
"You find that this number plate does not belong to a Mercedes, but that it belongs to a Toyota," he said.
"That is the reality in this country."
According to the latest data from the RTMC, the number of unlicensed vehicles on the roads increased to 428 537 in 2007, compared to 345 341 the year before.
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