Officials in the transport department and the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) are providing conflicting statements regarding the launch date of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act.
RTIA spokesperson Monde Mkalipi recently outlined the agency’s timeline for the rollout of the various elements of the AARTO Act.
According to Mkalipi, The AARTO Act will come into effect on 1 December 2025 with a rollout to 69 municipalities, including Cape Town, Johannesburg, and most major metros.
Remaining municipalities will be gradually included in the system in February and April 2026 – while the actual demerit system will go live in September 2026.
However, this conflicts with the previous announcement by the Department of Transport that was made on 2 July 2025 – just 9 days ago.
In his speech for the Department of Transport Budget Vote, Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa stated that the AARTO would roll out beginning on 1 October 2025.
“The AARTO will be rolled out in different phases according to municipal readiness from 1 October 2025 for the 69 municipalities which are ready for the rollout,” he said.
“This is phase 2 of the AARTO rollout programme, while phase 3 will be rolled out on 1 February 2026 for the 144 municipalities that will only be ready then.”
Confusion reigns supreme
This isn’t the first time the AARTO rollout has been surrounded in confusion or misinformation.
Earlier this year, false reports sprang up stating that the system would be going live on 5 June 2025.
These reports were quickly debunked by the RTIA and DoT.
“The RTIA and Department of Transport will release an official statement when the next phase is implemented. Stay tuned for updates on the official AARTO platforms,” said the agency.
However, it now appears that the RTIA and the Department of Transport themselves are not aligned on the matter – citing 1 December 2025 and 1 October 2025 as the go-live dates respectively.
How AARTO demerits works
The AARTO demerit system functions by automatically assigning demerit points to motorists who break the law and receive traffic fines, with higher points being allocated for more severe infringements.
Should a motorist exceed 15 demerit points, their license will be suspended, with the suspension period lasting for three months for every point over 15.
Notably, licenses can only be suspended twice, and should a third violation occur, it will be revoked along with the suspension, forcing the motorist to redo their learners and drivers’ exams after the suspension ends.
The DoT has said it will also provide a “driver rehabilitation programme” for repeat offenders, and individuals who complete the course will have their ban period reduced.
Demerit points aren’t permanent either, with motorists losing one point every three months.
The table below highlights the fine and demerit allotments for different traffic offences:
| 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 | Criminal offence — 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 | Criminal offence — Court hearing | 6 |
| Failing to keep left | R1,000 | 3 |
| Failing to stop at an accident | Criminal offence — Court hearing | 6 |
| Driving under the influence | Criminal offence — Court hearing | 6 |
| Furnishing false information | Criminal offence — Court hearing | 6 |
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