New traffic fine laws coming to 151 municipalities in South Africa – including a demerit point system

Despite the apparent delay in launching the third phase of the Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) rollout, the Transport Minister confirmed it is on the way.

The AARTO rollout system commenced on 1 July 2026, following a seven-month delay, and was expected in 69 metros and municipalities on 1 December 2025, followed by commencement in 144 other municipalities from 1 April 2026.

Following this, the system would have been fully implemented by 1 September 2026, with the driving demerit system operational in all 151 municipalities, but the launch was pushed back and rescheduled.

Under the new schedule, the second phase was implemented in only 62 municipalities instead of 69, while the third phase was scheduled to commence in the third quarter of 2026.

No official start date for the phase 3 rollout was provided, but the third-quarter target suggested a September 2026 launch window, as confirmed in a parliamentary Q&A with the department.

Minister Barbara Creecy confirmed that the third phase of the rollout is still coming, but failed to provide exact timelines for its implementation.

The broad third-quarter rollout window in the Transport Department’s performance plan means that it could launch at any time in the next two months and be on target.

According to the Minister, all Phase 2 issuing authorities, including the metros and municipalities implementing the system since 1 July, have been integrated into the new AARTO system.

She explained that they have all been capacitated to process infringement notices under the new system.

Below is a breakdown of the department’s implementation targets under the new AARTO system:

Demerit points are still coming for South Africa’s motorists

Following the launch of the fourth phase of the AARTO rollout, which does not yet have a specific launch date, motorists in South Africa can expect to start accruing demerit points.

The Minister confirmed that implementation of the new driving demerit system will take place in Phase 4.

The Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) has shared a more vague rollout plan for the demerit points system, planning to start issuing demerit notices from the next financial year.

If its medium-term planning remains on track, this implies the new system won’t be launched before April 2027, at least.

Once implemented, the driving demerit system will be the biggest systemic change under the AARTO Act, but there have been, and still will be, more administrative changes that will shake things up for drivers.

One of the more significant changes is the introduction of “electronic service” and the removal of the right to be tried by a competent court, which moves violations from the Criminal Procedure Act to the AARTO Act.

The driving demerit system will allocate demerit points for specific traffic infringements, depending on severity, and will lead to licence suspensions or cancellations if drivers accumulate too many points.