Traffic authorities crack down on unroadworthy vehicles ahead of festive season
Over 229 000 vehicles have been stopped nationwide in recent days, with more than 600 discontinued for safety defects as authorities enforce stricter roadworthiness checks ahead of the holiday travel rush.
Traffic authorities across South Africa are intensifying their enforcement against unroadworthy vehicles as the festive season travel surge draws near.
Over the past six days, officers have stopped and inspected 229 612 vehicles at nationwide roadblocks. Of these, 662 vehicles were discontinued for failing roadworthiness standards, including issues such as worn tyres, defective brakes, faulty lights, cracked windscreens, leaking engines, and malfunctioning steering. Any vehicle exhibiting three or more faults is subject to discontinuation.
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Another 727 vehicles were impounded for violating the National Land Transportation Act, including operating public transport without valid permits.
The provincial breakdown of discontinued vehicles is as follows:
Eastern Cape – 146
Free State – 7
Gauteng- 28
Limpopo – 13
Mpumalanga – 137
KZN – 113
North West – 3
Western Cape – 71
National Traffic Police – 134
Northern Cape – 0
Motorists are urged to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy and free of defects before embarking on long-distance travel, particularly following the start of school holidays and the seasonal pause in construction activities.
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Data from the National Traffic Information System (NaTIS) indicates that 527 008 vehicles in South Africa remain unroadworthy, showing a slight improvement from 604 881 in 2024.
This includes buses, taxis, and commercial vehicles. Commercial vehicles with a gross vehicle mass over 3 500kg, including minibus taxis, must undergo annual roadworthiness tests, while buses require testing every six months.
Provincial data for unroadworthy vehicles is as follows:
KZN – 70 201
Limpopo – 24 955
Free State – 35 319
Eastern Cape – 34 526
Northern Cape – 10 426
Western Cape – 75 369
Mpumalanga – 37 396
Gauteng – 255 455
North West – 28 361
The Road Traffic Management Corporation has instructed traffic authorities to adopt a zero-tolerance approach. Drivers caught operating unsafe vehicles face arrest, and their vehicles may be impounded.
