AARTO starts on 1 December: ‘It's going to work’ - Road Traffic Infringement Agency
A phased rollout of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Amendment Act (AARTO) begins on 1 December 2025.
Traffic officers conduct checks at a roadblock. Picture: @Dotransport/Twitter
702’s Bongani Bingwa speaks with Monde Mkalipi of the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA).
Listen below:
Sections of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Amendment Act (Aarto) will come into effect on 1 December 2025.
Roll-outs will begin in 69 municipalities, followed by the remaining 144 on 1 April 2026.
The demerit points system (Section 24) will take effect from 1 September 2026.
RELATED: AARTO kicks in on 1 December 2025
“…[if] you go through a red traffic light, you are going to be served with an infringement notice… over and above the fine that you are expected to pay… There are going to be demerit points attached.”
– Monde Mkalipi, Road Traffic Infringement Agency
More than 15 demerit points will lead to a license suspension, and a third license suspension will lead to a full cancellation of your license.
“You will start from scratch in terms of applying for a learner's license…”
– Monde Mkalipi, Road Traffic Infringement Agency
One point will expire if you have not incurred any additional infringements for three months.
Mkalipi argues that AARTO is not a ‘money-making scheme’ but rather a system built to reward safe driving.
“… the country is concerned about the ever-increasing number of fatalities that occur on our roads.”
– Monde Mkalipi, Road Traffic Infringement Agency
“It is a national road safety intervention… the system is going to work.”
– Monde Mkalipi, Road Traffic Infringement Agency
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the discussion.