In the 31 October 2025 Government Gazette it was confirmed that the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act’s first phase will now officially be implemented on 1 December.
Some points clarified in the Government Gazette:
- On 1 December 2025, AARTO will be implemented in 69 municipalities.
- On 1 April 2026, it will be implemented throughout South Africa.
- The demerit system comes into effect on 1 September 2026.
- Paying fines within 30 days reduces penalties by 50%.
- Initially, it will link company vehicle fines directly to the business’s official Registration Number (BRN).
- Vehicles cannot be renewed or transferred until fines are paid.
- Demerit points can only be transferred to drivers in September.
- Once a driver accumulates 15 demerit points their license can be suspended.
- The Act includes a driver rehabilitation programme so that a license cannot be permanently suspended.
While there was some expectation that the Act would become less onerous, this is not true for businesses. The CEO of MasterDrive, Eugene Herbert, explains: “The removal of a proxy, removes a significant amount of administrative burden. Simultaneously, it has its own administrative requirements.
“If fines are not settled within 30 days not only is the discount lost but consequences escalate. When fines are not paid, businesses cannot renew vehicle licenses, transfer ownership or register new vehicles. This requires the appointment of someone to trace and settle fines.”
Should an organisation fail to do this, and fines remain unpaid, this can incapacitate a business by preventing legal operation. “This heralds major change for organisations that do not settle fines under the current legislation. In 2023, it was estimated that less than 20% of fines were not paid.
“The new AARTO Act makes it impossible to avoid non-compliance. The ENatis system can trace fines using the Business Registration Number. It necessitates tracking fines and putting verified payment systems in place immediately to avoid costly downtime.”
Any organisations that do not yet have formal processes to manage traffic violations should do so immediately. “With less than a month to prepare, the time to act is now. The December rollout of AARTO is a fundamental shift in how traffic fines are managed for businesses across South Africa.
“It places direct accountability—and administrative responsibility—squarely on organisations. Failing to adapt can result in operational disruptions that could halt business entirely. The message is clear: proactive compliance is no longer optional, it is essential for continued operations,” says Herbert.