Latest news with #AARTOAct
eNCA
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- eNCA
Phased roll out of AARTO to start in December
JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's demerit point system for drivers is closer to being implemented. WATCH: Discussion | AARTO Act | New traffic fine system to be rolled out The Road Traffic Infringement Agency has announced that the Administration of Road Traffic Offences AARTO Act will be rolled in phases starting with 69 municipalities in December. The demerit points system will come into full effect in September.
Eyewitness News
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- Eyewitness News
AARTO rollout to start 1 December: What you can expect...
The Department of Transport is on a mission to improve road safety and change driver behaviour. According to the Deputy Minister of Transport, Mr. Mkhuleko Hlengwa, 80% of road crashes are caused by human error. The Department is set to roll out the Administration and Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act to promote safer driving habits. AARTO will be rolled out in phases starting with 69 municipalities on 1 December 2025. The first batch will include Cape Town, Johannesburg, and most major metros. On that day, the Department will launch the 'Elective Options' of the AARTO Act. These options include paying the fine, submitting a representation, nominating a different driver, arranging to pay in instalments, or applying for a revocation of an enforcement order. If you pay within 32 days of the infringement notice you will receive a 50% discount. If you fail to resolve your infringements, your license may be blocked from being renewed.
The South African
07-07-2025
- Automotive
- The South African
New AARTO demerit point system gets an official launch date
Deputy Minister of Transport Mkhuleko Hlengwa has confirmed that the long-awaited Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) system will be implemented in 69 municipalities from 1 October 2025. Delivering his Budget Vote speech on last week, Hlengwa said these municipalities are prepared to roll out the system, while the remaining 144 municipalities – not yet ready – will implement AARTO in February 2026. At the time of publishing it remains unclear which municipalities fall into those scheduled to start this year – and next. 'The AARTO will be rolled out in different phases according to municipal readiness,' Hlengwa explained. 'This is phase 2 of the AARTO rollout programme, while phase 3 will begin on 1 February 2026.' The phased implementation follows years of delays, legal battles, and public confusion, including recent fake news reports in June claiming the system was being rolled out nationally – misinformation traced back to an online disinformation campaign using AI-generated content. Citing research that over 80% of road crashes are due to human error, Hlengwa said AARTO is central to government's strategy to change motorist behaviour. At the heart of AARTO is a demerit point system , which penalises drivers for traffic infringements and repeat offences. The AARTO Act and its Amendment Act were both found to be constitutional and valid in July 2023, clearing the legal path for implementation. Although a national rollout was initially scheduled for 1 July 2024, technical and logistical challenges pushed the date back. Once fully implemented: All motorists start with zero demerit points Points are added for each offence when a fine is paid or upheld Accumulating 15 points results in a licence suspension of three months per additional point results in a licence suspension of per additional point A third suspension leads to licence cancellation , requiring the driver to retake their learner's and driver's licence tests , requiring the driver to retake their learner's and driver's licence tests Points expire after three months if no further infringements occur A driver rehabilitation programme will be available to help reduce suspension periods for frequent offenders Violation Fine amount Demerit points Exceeding speed limit by 11-15km/h R250 0 Exceeding speed limit by 16-20km/h R500 1 Exceeding speed limit by 21-25km/h R750 2 Exceeding speed limit by more than 40km/h Court hearing 6 Disobeying a stop sign or traffic light R750 2 Failing to use indicators R500 1 Driving without a licence R1 250 4 Driving unregistered vehicle R1 000 3 Driving vehicle without valid licence disc R1 000 3 Driving vehicle with one number plate R500 2 Driving vehicle without number plates Court hearing 6 Failing to keep left R1 000 3 Failing to stop at an accident Court hearing 6 Driving under the influence Court hearing 6 Furnishing false information Court hearing 6 Following the confusion caused by false reports in June, the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) and Department of Transport issued public warnings and clarified that official announcements will only be made via verified government platforms. 'The information being circulated about the AARTO rollout date is fake news,' the RTIA stated. 'We urge the public to rely only on official channels for updates.' With the staggered rollout now clearly defined, the Department of Transport is under pressure to deliver a transparent, efficient, and fair implementation of a system that has sparked both controversy and cautious optimism. Authorities are urging motorists to begin familiarising themselves with the AARTO system and its implications – particularly the demerit system – as South Africa moves closer to a more digitised and accountable road traffic enforcement regime. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
05-07-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
AARTO rollout set for October 2025 in 69 municipalities
The Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences system will be rolled out in phases according to municipal readiness from October 1, 2025, for the 69 municipalities that are ready for the rollout. Image: Ayanda Ndamane / Independent Newspapers The Transport Department has announced October as the new date for the national rollout of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) system in 69 municipalities. This was announced by Transport Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa during the department's budget vote debate in Parliament earlier this week, when he said 69 municipalities will be ready to implement AARTO, and 144 were not yet ready. 'The AARTO will be rolled out in different phases according to municipal readiness from October 1, 2025, for the 69 municipalities, which are ready for the rollout,' Hlengwa said. 'This is Phase 2 of the AARTO rollout programme, while Phase 3 will be rolled out on February 1, 2026, for the 144 municipalities that will only be ready then,' he said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The AARTO Act was confirmed as constitutional by the apex court, and the department intends to use it to change the behaviour of motorists. Hlengwa said research has shown that more than 80% of road crashes were due to human error, and that was why there was a call for behaviour-changing efforts on their part. 'To ensure positive changes in road user behaviour, the department will roll out the Administration and Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act, central to which is the demerit system that systematically aims at containing road user behaviour,' he said. The new date for the national roll out of AARTO comes a month after a fake report suggested the imminent roll out of the demerit system that will see motorists lose points for offences and stand to have their driving licence suspended or cancelled should they lose many. In June, the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) dismissed any claims suggesting an imminent wider national rollout as incorrect. However, RTIA confirmed that AARTO was currently operational only in Johannesburg and Tshwane. The agency said it was working with the Department of Transport on a draft proclamation of the AARTO Amendment Act. While the draft AARTO regulations have been developed, a selection process towards the appointment of members of the public to serve in the AARTO Appeals Tribunal was at an advanced stage. RTIA also stated that service outlets have been created across the country, and education and community awareness have been ongoing in all nine provinces and on all digital platforms. 'AARTO connectivity of issuing authorities to the e-Natis is under way. Training of the more than 25,000 traffic officers across the country is under way. Preparations to implement the Points Demerit System and the AARTO rehabilitation programme as part of Phase 3 are under way.' According to RTIA, strengthening laws for road traffic compliance was paramount, and the AARTO Act was a vital tool in achieving this. 'Its effective implementation will play a critical role in enforcing these laws and ultimately making our roads safer for all road users.' Meanwhile, the department is moving closer to implementing the 24-hour campaign of visible traffic law enforcement. Hlengwa reiterated the department's commitment to accelerating the implementation of a 24-hour campaign of visible traffic law enforcement across all three spheres of government, aiming to change road user behaviour towards greater compliance with road rules. He said the visibility of law enforcement has proven to be a major contributor to recent achievements in the reduction of road deaths. 'We have thus worked to speed up the resolution of most issues that have delayed the implementation of a 24-hour, seven-day a week and 365 days a year campaign of visible traffic law enforcement,' he said. 'While the country waits for all remaining provinces to finalise their processes and implement a 24-hour shift traffic law enforcement system, the National Traffic Police (NTP) will continue to be deployed to provide support to provinces and ensure greater traffic law enforcement operations across South Africa.' Hlengwa also said the department was reviewing the National Road Safety Strategy that will be submitted to the Cabinet by the end of this financial year. 'The revised strategy will inform engineering interventions, such as the development and promotion of safer road infrastructure designs, safer vehicle technologies, and continuous improvements in traffic management systems. The overall reviewed strategy will include the implementation of stricter traffic laws, vigorous law enforcement operations, and comprehensive road safety education campaigns.' He also said their approach was to improve harmonisation of operations between the three spheres of government through joint planning, inter-agency collaboration, consistency, and shared resources and services throughout the year. 'This will be supported by visible policing through force multiplication and smart deployments on critical routes, focusing on top traffic offences and violations, while intensifying partnerships and collaboration with civil society and media influencers.'
