It seems that AARTO may still see the light of day, with the Department of Transport indicating that it expects to introduce the Points Demerit System in April 2016, the CAW LO implementation of which is hoped to reduce the road carnage and penalise traffic offenders.

Deputy Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga has been quoted as saying: “Having a driving licence is a privilege not a right because it belongs to the State.”

The Department says that “all roads now lead to the implementation of the new Road Traffic Offences Act”.

In a news broadcast on ENCA News, Thabo Tsholetsane from the Road Traffic Infringement Agency said that “Everybody will start on a clean slate for demerit points, and once you commit these infringements we will demerit a point for each infringement depending on the severity thereof. For instance, if you go over the stop sign it will be two demerit points. But if you do something drastic it might be four. So when you reach the threshold of twelve demerit points your licence will be suspended,” he added.

The Road Freight Association has submitted various comments on the points and offences and tabled members’ concerns regarding the administration of the Points Demerit System. It has also highlighted to both the Unions and government the implications of drivers receiving demerit points in their private capacity and not being fit for duty if they no longer have valid licences. Operators will also have to incur a cost fee for every enquiry to ascertain whether drivers have any demerit points or if they are even allowed to drive.

The Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) which is responsible for the administration and roll out of AARTO was involved in a policy dispute with other Agencies and did not meet the NEDLAC requirements in terms of research required to support the amendments to the Act which had previously halted the planned roll -out.