The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) and digital traffic fines platform Fines SA have welcomed the announcement by the Department of Transport to defer the implementation of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act to July 1, 2026.

In a November 11 media release, Outa says it welcomes government’s recognition that the AARTO system is not ready for implementation.

“This delay was inevitable,” says Outa CEO Wayne Duvenage.

“AARTO was never ready, not in 2020, not in 2024, and certainly not now. These repeated postponements confirm what we have warned all along: the system is unworkable in its current form.”

Outa says it has tracked AARTO’s development for over a decade, consistently raising concerns about its practicality, transparency and alignment with the principles of fair administration.

“We support any system that improves road safety and encourages motorists to obey the law. But regulation must be clear, fair and functional. AARTO fails that test,” says Duvenage.

He adds that the latest regulations, rushed through without proper public participation, have only deepened concerns.

Outa explains that the new version represents a complete rewrite of the regulations, first published for public comment in 2020, far beyond the usual refinements that follow public input.

Additionally, the organisation argues that the most recent amendments, published in the Government Gazette of October 31, include pages of unreadable text in the very schedules that list offences, fines and demerit points.

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

Outa says several municipalities have already indicated they wish to withdraw from the system.

“They can see the risks – a bureaucratic and costly process that won’t make our roads safer but will frustrate law-abiding motorists and strain local resources,” says Duvenage.

“This postponement should be used to get AARTO right.

“If government is serious about road safety, it must return to the drawing board, build a transparent, practical system that supports enforcement, earns public trust and genuinely saves lives.”

Outa says it will continue to monitor developments and challenge any process that undermines citizens’ rights or good governance.

Meanwhile, in a separate release, Fines SA says the new rollout date, originally planned for December, gives motorists valuable extra time to settle outstanding fines and familiarise themselves with the new demerit system before penalties take effect.

“We view this as a positive step,” says Fines SA CEO Barry Berman.

“The postponement gives South Africans the chance to get their affairs in order.

“We’ve already seen a significant influx of motorists registering and clearing old fines in anticipation of AARTO. This delay provides the perfect window for those who haven’t yet acted to avoid future complications.”

Under AARTO, Berman explains, unpaid fines will be directly linked to a motorist’s or business’s vehicle licence and registration number, making it impossible to renew or register vehicles until all fines are settled.

This could lead to operational disruptions for businesses and severe administrative hurdles for individuals once the system goes live.

“There are still thousands of unpaid fines in the system which will hurt drivers once AARTO launches unless they act now,” adds Berman.

“Our advice is simple: don’t wait until 2026. Use this time to clear your fines and stay compliant.”