South Africa is preparing for a major shift in road traffic enforcement as the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (Aarto) Act is officially scheduled for a nationwide rollout. Published in the Government Gazette on 1 August 2025, the phased implementation of this long-awaited law brings with it a strict driver’s licence demerit point system a move aimed at promoting road safety and accountability.
Key Implementation Dates for Aarto
The Aarto Act will be introduced in two major phases, with the demerit system following later:
| Implementation Stage | Effective Date |
|---|---|
| 69 Major Municipalities | 1 December 2025 |
| Additional 144 Municipalities | 1 April 2026 |
| Demerit Point System Starts | 1 September 2026 |
These dates now provide a confirmed and reliable roadmap after months of confusion and contradicting reports from various transport authorities.
Legal Background
The rollout of Aarto follows a protracted legal dispute that began when the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) challenged its constitutionality. Although Outa initially won the case in the High Court, the Constitutional Court overturned that decision in July 2023, affirming both the Aarto Act and its Amendment as lawful and enforceable.
Initially, the government had planned to launch the system back in July 2020, then postponed it to July 2024 due to the court proceedings. However, this deadline was also missed. The new plan, published officially, is now considered final.
What the Demerit System Means for Drivers
Once the demerit system begins on 1 September 2026, all drivers in South Africa will start with zero points on their licences. Each traffic violation will carry a specific number of points and/or a fine.
| Offence | Fine | Demerit Points |
|---|---|---|
| Speeding (11–15km/h over limit) | R250 | 0 |
| Speeding (16–20km/h over limit) | R500 | 1 |
| Speeding (21–25km/h over limit) | R750 | 2 |
| Speeding (more than 40km/h over limit) | Court case | 6 |
| Disobeying stop sign/traffic light | R750 | 2 |
| Not using indicators | R500 | 1 |
| Driving without a licence | R1,250 | 4 |
| Unregistered vehicle | R1,000 | 3 |
| No valid licence disc | R1,000 | 3 |
| One number plate | R500 | 2 |
| No number plates | Court case | 6 |
| Failing to keep left | R1,000 | 3 |
| Failing to stop at an accident | Court case | 6 |
| Drunk driving | Court case | 6 |
| Providing false information | Court case | 6 |
A driver may accumulate up to 15 points before facing penalties. If the point total exceeds 15, the driver’s licence will be suspended. The suspension period is three months for every point above the limit. For example, collecting 19 points results in a 12-month suspension.
What Happens After a Suspension?
- You cannot drive during the suspension; doing so becomes a criminal offence.
- A licence can only be suspended twice. A third offence over the limit results in the licence being cancelled completely.
- After cancellation, you must redo both the learner’s and driver’s licence tests to get a new card.
The Department of Transport will offer a rehabilitation programme for those who have had their licences cancelled. Completing this programme may lead to a reduced ban period.
No. Demerit points will expire after three months if no further violations occur during that period. This gives drivers an opportunity to “clean the slate” by driving responsibly.
Reactions from the Public and Municipalities
While the legal hurdles are cleared, concerns remain. Outa continues to argue that the system is administratively burdensome and may be impractical to enforce at a national level. Municipalities have also raised concerns, particularly regarding the revenue implications with 50% of traffic fine proceeds now going directly to the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) under the new rules.
Despite these concerns, the government appears firm on moving ahead with Aarto, framing it as a step toward reducing road deaths and improving law enforcement.
South African motorists should prepare now for Aarto’s phased introduction particularly for the driver’s licence demerit system coming into effect on 1 September 2026. Responsible driving will soon carry not only moral and safety consequences but also administrative penalties that can severely affect your driving privileges.
Related article: Why Many South African Motorists Are Driving Without Licences – Corruption Scandal Uncovered
