By Cii Radio Features | From Sabeelul Hayat with Mas-oodah Jappie
17 November 2025
South Africa is preparing for a major shift in the way road traffic violations are handled, following the upcoming implementation of the AARTO Act and its much-discussed Demerit Point System. The reform aims not only to change how infringements are processed, but ultimately to change the behaviour of road users across the country.
This week we sat down with Monde Mkalipi, spokesperson for the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA), who unpacked what the system really means for motorists, how it will work, and why its implementation has been postponed.
Why AARTO? A System Designed to Save Lives
According to Mkalipi, the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act is part of a broader strategy to reduce South Africa’s devastating road fatality statistics.
“Between 38 to 40 people perish on our roads every day. That’s about 12,000 deaths a year,” Mkalipi said. “This legislation is designed to change the behaviour of road users.”
The AARTO process also aims to remove traffic infringements from the criminal court system, where they currently add pressure to already overloaded courts. Instead, cases will be handled administratively through the RTIA, speeding up processing and ensuring more consistent accountability.
How the Demerit System Will Work
Under the new system, every infringement will carry a specific number of demerit points based on the severity of the offence. These points are only added after a motorist admits guilt, usually through paying the fine.
For example:
• Running a red light may attract four demerit points.
• A driver who pays the fine will have those four points added to their record.
• For every three months of compliant driving, one point is automatically removed, until the driver returns to zero.
This means compliant drivers are not punished in the long term for occasional mistakes, and repeat offenders face mounting consequences.
“Demerit points are not permanent,” Mkalipi emphasised. “The system is designed to help people correct their behaviour, not to remove licences unnecessarily.”
Postponed Implementation – New Dates Explained
Although initially scheduled for 1 December 2025, the rollout of the AARTO Demerit Point System has been postponed. The new target date for national implementation is 1 July 2026, as the Department of Transport and RTIA work to streamline the remaining rollout phases.
The RTIA is considering collapsing the remaining phases so that the entire system can “kick in simultaneously across the country,” ensuring fairness and uniformity.
When Does a Licence Get Suspended or Cancelled?
The system sets a threshold of 15 demerit points:
• 16 points or more: Your driving licence is suspended.
• Second suspension: Allowed if the threshold is exceeded again.
• Third suspension: Your licence is cancelled, and you must start the licensing process from scratch.
The intention is not to punish but to rehabilitate habitual offenders.
Driver Rehabilitation Programme: A Second Chance
Motorists who exceed the threshold will have to undergo a Driver Rehabilitation Programme, which includes:
• Training based on the National Road Traffic Act
• Education on the consequences of unsafe driving
• Modules explaining how crashes impact families, breadwinners, and communities
“We want drivers to understand the real human cost of bad driving,” Mkalipi said.
Starting at Zero – No One Begins With Points
Importantly, all motorists will begin the rollout at zero demerit points.
“In South Africa, you only gain demerit points when you commit an infringement,” Mkalipi clarified. “Compliant road users will not be negatively affected.”
The Road Ahead
As South Africa prepares for the final rollout of the AARTO Demerit Point System, RTIA stresses that awareness and education remain essential. While concerns and confusion persist, the agency insists the system is built on fairness, transparency, and accountability.
With accurate information, motorists can approach the changes with confidence and perhaps contribute to safer, more responsible road culture in the country.
