WC's Sileku: Municipalities concerned about possible revenue dip with AARTO Act implementation

Western Cape MEC for Urban Mobility Issac Sileku said municipalities are concerned about a possible dip in revenue with the implementation of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act.

Sileku said municipalities are concerned about the financial implications of the Aarto system, particularly its impact on revenue collection from traffic fines.

ALSO READ: WC's Sileku welcomes postponement of implementation of phase 2 of AARTO Act

He added that municipalities currently rely on the money generated from these fines.

The AARTO Act was due to handle minor traffic offences with a demerit point and fine system come 1 December.

The rollout has since been rescheduled for 1 July 2026.

"That is one thing that the municipalities are also worried about, which is unclear, what would be the implication on their side? Because most of our municipalities are currently reliant on traffic fines, you know, and one of the measures that is said by Aarto you know, for instance, if they issue a fine and that fine must be paid within 32 days, then if you as a municipality is not able to collect that amount within those 32 days, then the RTI would do it on your behalf. And then as a result, you will have to pay them 50% and 50% will go to the municipality. So those are the kinds of concerns that they have, you know, if your system is not integrated, then it means that you have to have manual, you know, we have to issue someone's use manually. And as a result, it might actually work against you if your system is not integrated,"he said.

Editor's Note: This article was edited to include the MEC's full quote

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