President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially announced the activation of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act (AARTO) in 62 municipalities across South Africa, beginning this week.
In a series of gazettes released by the Presidency, through the Department of Transport, the commencement of both the AARTO Act and the AARTO Amendment Act has been proclaimed. The initial gazette outlines the activation of sections 17, 18, 19, 19A, 19B, 20, 23, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, and 35 of the AARTO Act in 60 municipalities, detailing the framework for issuing infringement notices, penalties, and other regulatory measures essential for the system’s operation. Notably, section 24, which pertains to the points demerit system, will be introduced at a later date.
This rollout encompasses major metropolitan areas such as Buffalo City, Nelson Mandela Bay, Mangaung, City of Ekurhuleni, Durban and Govan Mbeki Municipality, while Johannesburg and Tshwane will not participate at this stage, as they have had the AARTO system operational for several years.
The second gazette announces the full implementation of the AARTO Amendment Act, excluding section 2(g), across all 62 municipalities, including the previously mentioned cities. The system will also roll out in Govan Mbeki Municipality
This launch signifies the beginning of phase 2 in the overhaul of national driving laws, originally slated for December 2025. The complete system is targeted for implementation by September 1, 2026, at which time the driving demerit system will operate nationwide.
The Transport Department had delayed the rollout in November 2025 due to readiness assessments revealing challenges with municipal integration, including the need for finalized law enforcement personnel and the alignment of various municipal law enforcement systems. This postponement effectively pushed back the rollout by six months.
A critical feature of the AARTO system is the new driving demerit system, for which a specific launch date has yet to be announced.
Phase 1 focused on establishing the necessary AARTO infrastructure and service centers. Phase 2 will commence on July 1, 2026, targeting 62 municipalities, down from the previously planned 69. Phase 3 is anticipated to begin in the third quarter of 2026, expanding the system to 151 municipalities, and Phase 4, which will introduce the demerit system, is expected to roll out sometime in 2027.
