Calls grow to scrap AARTO as repeated delays echo Gauteng e-toll saga

What’s happening

Calls for the scrapping of the AARTO traffic enforcement system are growing after repeated postponements and concerns about administrative readiness, with critics drawing parallels to the controversial Gauteng e-toll project.

Timeline of delays and official plans

The national rollout of AARTO is now officially scheduled for Wednesday 1 July 2026. That followed an earlier planned nationwide launch of 1 December 2025 which was postponed so authorities could assess municipal readiness.

The Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) says the rollout will expand to an additional 144 municipalities from 1 October 2026, with all 213 municipal issuing authorities expected to be active by 1 January 2027. The department hopes to begin issuing demerit notices in the 2027/28 financial year (after 1 April 2027).

Why critics want AARTO scrapped

Civil society groups and political parties say the scheme faces a legitimacy crisis after years of postponements and administrative problems. The Freedom Front Plus warned the postponement suggests AARTO could follow the same path as Gauteng’s e-toll system, which was largely rejected by the public and wound down after years of legal and political battles.

Critics point to several practical issues highlighted during pilots and early phases: minimal training of law enforcement and back-office staff, a lack of harmonisation with municipal systems that could create funding shortfalls, and administrative errors in issuing fines during earlier Gauteng pilots including fines sent late, dispatched incorrectly or not sent at all.

Legal and technical concerns

Civil action group OUTA has criticised the integrity of the regulations underpinning AARTO. The group highlighted that amendments published in the Government Gazette on 31 October 2025 contained pages of unreadable text. OUTA said:

“Citizens simply cannot comply with laws they cannot read. That’s not enforcement; that’s confusion.”

Municipal resistance and capacity questions

Several municipalities reportedly including councils in the DA-run Western Cape have indicated they may withdraw from the system, citing the bureaucratic and financial burden it would impose. The RTIA itself acknowledges the rollout plan could face further delays, noting timelines assume the agency will have the necessary capacity, resources and coordination in place.

What this means for motorists in Gauteng and Johannesburg

The article compares AARTO’s troubles to problems experienced in the Gauteng pilot of earlier enforcement projects. That pilot was described as having been riddled with administrative failures. Motorists in Gauteng and in the province’s major urban centres should be aware that critics fear similar rollout issues could affect how fines and demerit points are managed if authorities proceed without further redesign.

Key dates to watch

• 1 July 2026 national rollout scheduled
• 1 October 2026 expansion to 144 additional municipalities
• 1 January 2027 target for all 213 municipal issuing authorities to be active
• After 1 April 2027 demerit notices expected in the 2027/28 financial year

Ongoing debate

As delays continue, political parties and civil society groups are calling for the system to be redesigned or scrapped entirely. The question remains whether AARTO can be fixed in time to avoid the public rejection that marked Gauteng’s e-toll experience, or whether further postponements and legal challenges will follow.