AARTO implementation delayed until July 2026 due to municipal unpreparedness

Zuko Komisa

The Department of Transport has delayed the nationwide launch of the AARTO Act and its demerit points system until 1 July 2026.
The postponement is due to municipal unpreparedness, citing incomplete training, system harmonisation issues, and funding shortfalls in initial rollout areas.
The AARTO Act aims to enforce safer roads via a uniform penalty and points system applied to vehicle operators, not the vehicles themselves.

The Department of Transport has postponed the nationwide rollout of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act until 1 July 2026.

This marks a delay from the initial launch date of 1 December 2025.

The decision follows an assessment that revealed significant readiness issues among municipalities designated for the first phase.

The department cited several critical areas needing attention: the finalisation of training for both law enforcement and back-office staff, the harmonisation of various municipal law enforcement systems, and securing funding to align with AARTO requirements.

The department confirmed it would soon publish a new proclamation outlining the revised, staggered implementation dates, with the phased approach being maintained.

The AARTO Act aims to promote safer roads through a uniform traffic enforcement system, introducing a demerit points system for offenders.

Under this system, the operator or juristic person incurs points based on the severity of the infringement, starting with zero points upon implementation.