Ja, sadly so, here in the Cape the Metro Cops have gotten all childish about SABS plates. I have a smaller plate ( under the fender ) I often use when away from childish metro cops, in the sanctuary of the Karoo, or Namibia or whatever , where milking money from the already over-taxed, is not a problem.
This ugly plate from some angles is not so obvious hinged onto the top box , (which is a handy tool around town) , the plate forms a backup closing bungee with a rubber bonnet catch.
For very serious dirt I only use soft luggage and my elegant single camlock tie-down , and my , gasp, ILLEGAL plate.
Why can't we have small plates like the USA ? For fucks sake the SABS Aesthetic Eyesore is just one way to make your bike look KAK.
I once took on SABS about SANS 1116 spec, they were actually responsive, but I find it too exhausting to tackle officialdom who these days don't even speak the language of , how shall we put this, the modern, international world.....