The National Department of Transport has officially announced a new start date for the long-awaited Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act, deferring its national rollout to July 1, 2026.

The decision was confirmed by Transport Minister Barbara Creecy and Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa, who said the postponement comes after an assessment revealed that several municipalities were not yet ready for full implementation.

National spokesperson Collen Msibi said, “The deferment allows us to ensure proper training, system harmonisation and funding across municipalities.”

The AARTO rollout was originally scheduled to launch in December this year. “It will now follow a staggered implementation approach,” said Msibi.

The Department of Transport has indicated that a new proclamation with detailed rollout phases will be published soon.

Among others, readiness issues include the completion of training for law enforcement and administrative personnel, integration of various municipal law enforcement systems, and finalisation of funding models for rollout.

The AARTO Act, which has been operational on a pilot basis in Johannesburg and Tshwane, aims to create a uniform national system for handling traffic infringements.

It introduces a demerit points system to penalise repeat offenders, potentially leading to driver’s licence suspensions for serious or repeated violations.

Despite previous legal challenges, the Constitutional Court upheld the Act’s validity, confirming it as constitutional and paving the way for nationwide implementation.

The latest Government Gazette, issued on August 1, also outlines that different sections of the Act will come into effect between December 2025 and September 2026, solidifying the department’s phased approach.

“This is not a step backwards,” Msibi added, “It’s about ensuring the system works effectively from day one across all municipalities.”

With the new deadline, South African motorists and municipalities have just over a year and a half to prepare for one of the country’s most significant traffic law reforms in decades.

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