Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela has lauded the impact of the Gauteng Transport Inspectorate’s (GTI) latest high-impact stop-and-search operations, which targeted unroadworthy vehicles as part of the province’s ongoing #OperationRemoveSkorokoro campaign, reports the African Reporter.

“Public transport operators’ disregard for regulatory and traffic laws is being met head-on. This behaviour is utterly unacceptable, and we have urged GTI officers to continue enforcing the rules without fear or favour,” warned Diale-Tlabela.

The crackdown, conducted in collaboration with the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) between July 6 and 12, targeted key public transport routes across the cities of Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni.

A mountain of fines and ‘skorokoros’ off the road

During the week-long blitz, law enforcement officers issued 1 125 handwritten AARTO infringement notices. These included 570 in Johannesburg, 318 in Tshwane, and 237 in Ekurhuleni.

In addition to the fines, officers issued 40 discontinuation notices to instantly strip unroadworthy vehicles of their license discs and remove them from public roads. Of these, 28 were issued in Johannesburg, seven in Tshwane, and five in Ekurhuleni.

A further 35 minibus taxis were completely banned from operating until their mechanical defects are fully repaired. Officers also logged 833 E-force enforcements across the three metros.

Licensing violations and arrests

The provincial clampdown exposed widespread disregard for driver and vehicle compliance. Officers caught 83 minibus taxis operating without valid license discs, while 127 drivers were found behind the wheel without valid driving licenses.

The operations also led to three arrests: one motorist for reckless and negligent driving, one for fraud, and one undocumented foreign national.

Diale-Tlabela reaffirmed that clearing unsafe, unroadworthy vehicles remains a top priority under #OperationRemoveSkorokoro. She warned that those operating without valid documentation continue to compromise public safety and undermine provincial road safety efforts.

“The provincial government will continue to act against motorists and public transport operators who place the lives of commuters and other road users at risk through negligence and non-compliance,” she said.

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