The Department of Transport (DoT) has postponed the implementation of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) to July 1, 2026, citing the need to further assess national readiness. The car-rental industry, however, says it is fully prepared for the shift.
According to the DoT, the deferral follows an assessment that found several municipalities earmarked to form part of the initial implementation phase were not yet ready.
The assessment noted that law enforcement and back-office personnel required additional training. Additionally, it revealed that further work needed to be done to harmonise AARTO with existing municipal law enforcement systems.
“The Department will soon publish a new proclamation with new staggered implementation dates,” said DoT’s Spokesperson, Collen Msibi. “The phased approach originally envisaged for the roll-out will be maintained.”
Discussing the industry’s readiness, Sandile Ntseoane, GM of the Southern African Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association, said: “In preparation for AARTO’s implementation, Savrala conducted training workshops with the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) and industry-specific questions were formally addressed.
“The questions related to technical issues, including the driver nomination process, and clarity on whether the fines are applicable to car-rental companies or their nominated drivers.”
The RTIA clarified that proxies, such as car-rental companies and fleet owners, would be shielded from liability, however the system is still working to develop a workaround for foreign drivers.
The workshops also provided clarity on AARTO’s demerit point rules, electronic service introduction and system development progress.
“The car-rental industry seems to be ready for AARTO. There is continuous collaboration with the RTIA and Road Traffic Management Corporation to ensure that the interface will work properly,” said Ntseoane.
“Savrala will continue to engage with the DoT and the RTIA to ensure that the industry remains informed and adequately prepared for implementation.”
