MBOMBELA, Mpumalanga — The implementation of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act in Mpumalanga has sparked dissatisfaction among taxi operators in Mbombela. Following the phased rollout that commenced on July 1 across eight municipalities in the province, the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison is defending the measure as a critical step to enhance compliance and reduce road crashes, despite concerns raised by industry stakeholders.
Under the new AARTO Act implementation, drivers face strict penalties for outstanding infringements. These include prohibitions on renewing their licenses, potential license suspensions, and restrictions on vehicle registration until existing traffic fines are fully settled.
The Top Star Taxi Association has voiced strong concerns regarding the rollout, arguing that the AARTO Act will negatively impact taxi owners rather than the individual operators or drivers. The association fears that vehicle owners will ultimately bear the financial and administrative brunt of their drivers’ on-road behavior.
Moeti Mmusi, spokesperson for the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison, addressed these concerns directly. Mmusi stated that the primary objective of the AARTO Act is to save lives on South Africa’s roads, which currently experience a disproportionately high death toll from road crashes.
Mmusi emphasized that taxi owners will ultimately benefit in the long run from improved driver compliance, as it prevents the accumulation of endless fines. He clarified that the AARTO system is designed to hold the correct party accountable: the registered motorist can officially nominate the specific driver who was operating the vehicle at the time the offense was committed, ensuring the infringement notice is directed to the responsible individual.
Additionally, Mmusi highlighted built-in financial relief measures within the AARTO framework. Motorists can pay half of the total traffic fine provided it is settled within 32 days. For notices exceeding 750 rand, payment plans can be arranged in installments, a structure designed to encourage settlement and reduce the likelihood of repeat offenses.
Regarding the capacity of the eight municipalities—including the City of Mbombela and other designated local municipal areas—to enforce these changes, Mmusi confirmed that provincial and local traffic officers hold regular meetings to review resources and address operational challenges. To date, no significant implementation challenges have been reported.
The provincial department continues to work closely with the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA), a Department of Transport entity tasked with ensuring the correct and fair implementation of AARTO. While the current phase covers eight local municipalities, the broader nationwide rollout encompasses 62 municipalities in its second phase.
On the early-stage feedback since the July 1 kickoff, Mmusi noted that aside from the concerns raised by the taxi association, no major negative feedback regarding driver behavior or municipal enforcement has been received. The department remains prepared to address any emerging issues collaboratively as the rollout progresses.
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