Driving demerits: 'Points aren't permanent, can't be shared, we’ll all start on zero'

702's John Perlman chats to Road Traffic Infringement Agency spokesperson Monde Mkalipi. 

Listen below:

The new demerit points system will start on 1 September 2026, as part of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Amendment Act (AARTO).

The rollout will begin in 69 municipalities on 1 December 2025, and will extend to all 213 municipalities by April 2026. 

The Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) will manage this system.

It will give demerit points to drivers for various violations to help reduce repeat offences and improve road safety. Every driver will start with zero points. 

"There is an understanding that there is going to be a countdown approach... perhaps there will be 20 points allocated and then deductions. No, we all start at zero." 

- Monde Mkalipi, Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) spokesperson

Different violations, like not indicating or speeding, will carry between one and six points, depending on how serious the offence is. 

Drivers can accumulate up to 15 points before their licence is suspended. 

If a driver exceeds this limit, their licence will be suspended for three months for every point over the limit. 

If a driver gets suspended more than twice, their licence will be cancelled. 

RELATED: AARTO rollout to start 1 December: What you can expect...

However, drivers can lower their points: 

• One point will be removed for every three months without new offences. 
• Up to four points can be removed after finishing a rehabilitation programme.

"Demerit points are not permanent; they all depend on your level of compliance. If you are compliant, after every three months, demerit points fall away, and you can even go back to zero..." 

- Monde Mkalipi, Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) spokesperson

"Every infringement is going to be attached to a driving licence; the same applies to the demerit points, so there's no way demerit points can be shared." 

- Monde Mkalipi, Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) spokesperson

RELATED: AARTO starts on 1 December: ‘It's going to work’ - Road Traffic Infringement Agency

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