Wat die kennisgewingnommer betref, bevestig die verkeersbeampte die tydstempel.

This is a common formal Afrikaans structure meaning as far as the notice number is concerned, regarding the notice number, or with respect to the notice number.

So wat ... betref is not a literal what ... concerns in normal English. It functions as a set phrase used to introduce the topic.

A very literal breakdown is:

• wat ... betref = as regards ...
• die kennisgewingnommer = the notice number

So the first part sets the topic, and the rest of the sentence says what happens about that topic.

Not really in the usual question-word sense.

In this sentence, wat is part of the fixed expression wat ... betref. In that expression, it is better understood as part of an idiom meaning as for, regarding, or concerning.

So a learner should avoid reading it as a question word here. The sentence is not asking anything.

Betref means concerns, relates to, or regards.

You will often see it in fairly formal language, especially in official, administrative, or written contexts.

Examples:

• Dit betref my nie. = It does not concern me.
• Wat die koste betref, is dit aanvaarbaar. = As far as the cost is concerned, it is acceptable.

In your sentence, betref helps create the formal introductory phrase Wat die kennisgewingnommer betref.

This is because Afrikaans follows the verb-second rule in main clauses.

The first position in the sentence is taken by the fronted phrase:

• Wat die kennisgewingnommer betref

Because that whole phrase comes first, the finite verb must come second:

• bevestig

And then the subject comes after the verb:

• die verkeersbeampte

So the structure is:

• Topic phrase
• Finite verb
• Subject
• Object

That is why you get:

• Wat die kennisgewingnommer betref, bevestig die verkeersbeampte die tydstempel.

If you removed the fronted topic phrase, the normal order would be:

• Die verkeersbeampte bevestig die tydstempel.

The comma separates the introductory topic phrase from the main clause.

So:

• Wat die kennisgewingnommer betref, = introductory frame
• bevestig die verkeersbeampte die tydstempel. = main statement

This comma is very natural in formal written Afrikaans when a fronted phrase introduces the sentence.

Afrikaans, like Dutch and German, very often forms compound nouns as a single word.

So:

• kennisgewing = notice / notification
• nommer = number
• kennisgewingnommer = notice number / notification number

English often writes these as separate words, but Afrikaans usually joins them into one compound noun.

This is extremely common:

• verkeersbeampte = traffic officer
• tydstempel = timestamp
• huisdeur = house door / front door

So to an English speaker, the long word may look intimidating, but it is usually just several smaller meaningful parts combined.

Yes:

• kennis = knowledge
• gewing = giving
  Together, kennisgewing means notice or notification
• nommer = number

So:

• kennisgewingnommer = notification number or notice number

Even if the historical parts are interesting, the most useful thing for a learner is to treat kennisgewing as a complete word meaning notice, and then see kennisgewingnommer as a straightforward compound.

Yes, it is also a compound noun.

• verkeer = traffic
• beampte = official / officer

So verkeersbeampte means traffic officer.

Notice that verkeer becomes verkeers- in the compound. That -s- is a linking element that often appears in Afrikaans compounds.

Yes. Tydstempel is the normal word for timestamp.

It is another compound:

• tyd = time
• stempel = stamp

So literally it is something like time-stamp, very close to English.

Depending on context, it could refer to:

• a digital timestamp
• an official recorded time
• a system-generated time mark

It sounds fairly formal, official, or administrative.

Words and structures that make it feel formal include:

• Wat ... betref
• kennisgewingnommer
• verkeersbeampte
• tydstempel
• bevestig

A more everyday speaker might choose a simpler structure depending on context. But the sentence itself is perfectly natural in bureaucratic, legal, or official writing.

Yes, depending on the exact context.

For example, a less formal rewording might use:

• oor = about
• vir = for
• a more direct sentence order

Possible alternatives could be along the lines of:

• Die verkeersbeampte bevestig die tydstempel vir die kennisgewingnommer.
• Oor die kennisgewingnommer bevestig die verkeersbeampte die tydstempel.

However, these are not always identical in tone or nuance. The original sentence has a distinctly formal as regards X style.

A good way to read it is in two chunks:

1. Wat die kennisgewingnommer betref,
   = As far as the notice number is concerned,

2. bevestig die verkeersbeampte die tydstempel.
   = the traffic officer confirms the timestamp.

So the Afrikaans order may feel unusual at first, but once you recognize the fronted topic phrase and the verb-second rule, it becomes much easier to process.

There are three main things to remember:

1. Use the fixed phrase correctly

   • Wat X betref, ...
   • Example: Wat die koste betref, is dit aanvaarbaar.

2. Keep the verb in second position If Wat X betref comes first, the finite verb must come immediately after that phrase.

   • Wat die dokument betref, ontbreek die handtekening.

3. Expect compound nouns Afrikaans often joins nouns into one word:

   • kennisgewingnommer
   • verkeersbeampte
   • tydstempel

If you master those three points, sentences like this become much easier to read and produce.