Mobility
- What is the current readiness of the province for the implementation of the Aarto Act, including (i) systems, (ii) infrastructure and (iii) staff training, (b)(i) what is the total estimated cost for implementing Aarto in the province and (ii) how many additional staff members are required, including the cost of their recruitment and training, (c)(i) what challenges or risks could affect the rollout and (ii) what measures is the Department taking to address them and (d) by what date does his Department expect full operational readiness for Aarto in the province?
(a) Provincial Readiness for AARTO Implementation
(i) Systems:
The Western Cape Mobility Department is 95% complete with the integration of its provincial systems into the national AARTO contravention system, with final testing underway. Municipal system readiness assessments - covering compatibility, data quality, back-office capacity and ICT infrastructure - will be completed between January and February 2026, with full municipal readiness expected by March 2026. The Department continues to work closely with the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) and Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), to ensure full interoperability and compliance.
(ii) Infrastructure:
All Provincial Traffic Centres and municipal infrastructure assessments have been completed. Required upgrades, led by RTIA and RTMC, are being finalised, with provincial confirmation of readiness expected between February and March 2026.
(iii) Staff Training:
Most provincial traffic officers have completed AARTO-related training. Municipal traffic officer training, along with back-office and administrative staff training facilitated by RTMC, is scheduled for completion by March 2026.
In addition to the staff training, the Western Cape Mobility Department together with the municipalities has established a Provincial-Municipal AARTO Implementation Forum. process.
The Provincial-Municipal AARTO Implementation Forum is established to facilitate a coordinated and collaborative approach between the Department of Mobility and all municipalities in the province for the successful implementation of AARTO.
To further strengthen readiness, the Forum will address key AARTO implementation challenges including operational inconsistencies, administrative capacity gaps, ICT system alignment, quality assurance of notices, financial implications, training requirements, and integration with national AARTO systems.
To ensure a consistent alignment, effective information sharing, and the resolution of implementation challenges and to prepare all stakeholders for 01 July 2026 implementation date a monthly AARTO Implementation Forum will be established.
(b) Estimated Cost and Staffing
(i) Cost:
Comprehensive costing—covering system integration, ICT infrastructure, training, staffing needs, and municipal support—is still being finalised. Final estimates will be confirmed after provincial system testing and municipal readiness assessments are completed.
(ii) Additional Staff:
Additional personnel will be required for back-office functions and municipal IT support. A detailed assessment of staffing and financial implications is under way, now with Provincial Treasury participating in the workstream.
(c) Challenges, Risks and Mitigation
(i) Key Risks:
Dependencies on national system activation, uneven municipal readiness, integration challenges, high training demand and anticipated increases in public enquiries—particularly regarding the points-demerit system—have been identified as key risks.
(ii) Mitigation Measures:
The Department is collaborating closely with RTIA and RTMC, coordinating implementation through the Provincial–Municipal AARTO Forum and Workstreams, monitoring outstanding training and infrastructure needs, and maintaining a provincial AARTO risk register and mitigation plan.
(d) Expected Full Operational Readiness
Based on current progress, namely system integration nearing completion, ongoing testing, and municipal assessments, the Department anticipates achieving full operational readiness within the next three months and no later than March 2026, subject to national system activation and completion of municipal readiness work. With that said, pursuant to a compelling submission from the Western Cape Mobility Department to defer the implementation to a later date, the latter was duly approved by the National Minister of Transport and as a consequence, Aarto implementation has been deferred to July 2026.
