South African motorists will face a new points-based demerit system starting 1 July 2026 under AARTO rules. The system aims to improve road safety through penalties for traffic offences.
The Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences system, run by the Road Traffic Infringement Authority, will assign one to six points per violation. Drivers begin at zero points, and reaching 15 points can lead to a three-month licence suspension for each excess point.
Three suspensions may result in full cancellation of the licence. Businesses will also face accountability for offences by employees using company vehicles.
Motorists have 32 days to pay an infringement notice and receive a 50 percent discount. Failure to pay triggers additional fees and blocks on the eNaTIS system for licence transactions.
The rollout was originally planned for 2021 but faced delays from legal challenges and technical issues. It now forms the second phase of the AARTO framework.