The Gauteng Transport Inspectorate (GTI), in collaboration with the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and other law-enforcement agencies, continues to record positive results through stop-and-search and high-impact enforcement operations across major metropolitan municipalities in Gauteng.

Conducted under the #RemoveSkorokoro campaign, the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport said the operations focus on high-risk public transport corridors, with particular attention to roadworthiness, valid documentation, and driver and regulatory compliance.

The department said that between September 14 and 20, the officers identified continued non-compliance among public transport operators and drivers.

According to the department, 70 minibus taxis were found operating without valid licence discs, while 104 minibus taxi drivers were found operating without valid driving licences.

The department added that 69 minibuses were withdrawn after being found unroadworthy, posing a safety risk to passengers and other road users.

Nineteen minibus taxis were also impounded for failing to meet minimum road safety standards.

“During the reporting period, officers also flagged critical safety issues, including defective braking systems, worn tyres, non-functional headlights and brake lights, faulty indicators and other mechanical faults that rendered the vehicles unsafe for use on public roads,” said the road department.

To strengthen accountability and ensure traffic violations are addressed, the department said GTI officers issued 850 handwritten AARTO (Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences) infringement notices across the province.

These comprised 163 in Ekurhuleni, 151 in Tshwane, 86 in Mogale City, 324 in Johannesburg and 121 in Sedibeng.

The department added that 545 electronic infringement notices were processed through Inspectorate’s e-Force devices. These included 159 in Ekurhuleni, 104 in Tshwane, 165 in Mogale City, 126 in Johannesburg and 92 in Sedibeng.

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The department noted that the latest enforcement operations also resulted in 75 discontinuation notices. These comprised three in Tshwane, five in Ekurhuleni, 42 in Mogale City, one in Sedibeng, and 24 in Johannesburg.

As part of law-enforcement efforts, officials also made five arrests, including three for bribery and two for contravening the Immigration Act.

Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, has reiterated that the discontinuation and impoundment of unroadworthy vehicles is not merely an enforcement measure; the department sees it as a necessary intervention to protect the lives of commuters and all road users.

“As the department, we will not tolerate drivers continuing to operate without valid driving licences or taxis operating without valid licence discs.

“Driving without a valid driver’s licence or driving an unlicensed public transport vehicle is against the law.

“Those who continue to disregard the law are putting the lives of passengers and other road users at risk,” warned Diale-Tlabela.

The MEC indicated that the continued operation of unlicensed drivers and non-compliant public transport vehicles poses an unacceptable risk to passengers and other road users.

She added that engagements with the minibus taxi industry will continue until this trend ends.

She stated that enforcement operations will continue and non-compliant drivers and vehicles will be removed from public roads.

The roads department said these latest results reflect its ongoing road safety and regulatory compliance efforts to ensure motorists and public transport operators follow applicable road and transport legislation.