The KwaZulu-Natal transport department has made more than R10 million from the sale of personalised licence plates in the past year.
From stolen-zn to cougar-zn, people have bought some of the funniest and most bizarre plates.
A personalised licence number plate costs R2108, and it costs an extra R250 to allocate the number to the vehicle plus licence fees, but the costs have not deterred Durban’s drivers from going to town with their number-plate choices.
Kyle Moonsamy, owner of CLUBN-ZN, said that his plate was inspired by his job as a club promoter.
“Your plate is an extension of yourself,” hesaid. “It must represent something you really enjoy or believe in, or maybe the name of your loved ones.”
Die-hard Liverpool fan Peter Eldridge applied for his ANFIELD-ZN plate more than five years ago.
“I was so surprised to be given it. I thought that because there are so many Liverpool supporters in South Africa somebody would have already chosen it.
“So I was over the moon when I got it. The great thing is that wherever I travel in the country, Liverpool supporters will honk their horn when overtaking me. When I stop at the supermarket, supporters come over to chat and take photos.
“Everybody can see that I’ll never walk alone as long as I have this number plate.”
Personalised plates can also be found on sale on websites such as Gumtree and Bid or Buy. The number plate Playa ZN is currently going for R7000 online.
Applicants for personalised plates are allowed to let their imagination run wild, but there are restrictions.
The KZN Department of Transport doesn’t accept every application that is received.
Sandra van Wyk, acting assistant manager of policy and legislation in the motor transport services department, said: “The department will decline an application for an offensive personalised licence number - one that is blasphemous, undesirable, gender-biased, discriminatory, derogatory or obscene.”
She gave examples such as BEFOXED-ZN BYBYRTI-ZN, 2WET4-ZN, EATYOU-ZN and 1SXCSS-ZN, which have all been rejected. - Sunday Tribune