Since 1 September 2012, unbeknown to most South Africans, all motor vehicles registered for the first time in SA have to be fitted with microdots that comply with the requirements of the National Road Traffic Act. Furthermore, all motor vehicles requiring SA Police Service vehicle clearance have to be fitted with microdots. Interestingly, South Africa is the only country to have this requirement in place.

Although most of us have no idea what microdots are, the technology has quickly become an important part of the country’s crime-prevention strategy. In a nutshell, microdots are 1mm × 1mm plastic discs that are virtually invisible to the naked eye, yet they contain information that, if need be, will prove ownership of a vehicle – or any microdotted asset – in the event of theft or loss.