‘We should celebrate Aarto’: RTIA defends roll-out as Outa withdraws case

The Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) says the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) withdrew the case against it at the eleventh hour. The system, according to RTIA, is designed to enhance road safety and simplify traffic fine management, decriminalising minor offences. Phase 2 of the Aarto roll-out began on 1 July, extending its footprint beyond the two pilot municipalities, Tshwane and Johannesburg.

Outasought its suspensionon the grounds that RTIA did not establish the legal safeguards that motorists are entitled to rely on, among other concerns. Briefing the portfolio committee on transport in parliament on Tuesday, 4 August, chairperson of the road traffic agency’s board Bonolo Ramokhele said Outa realised at the last minute that “they were terribly mistaken”. Ramokhele said the agency had experienced a few other legal challenges over Aarto’s second phase.

“But we have been able to successfully defend those in court,” he said. This includes an urgent application by the South African Local Government Association (Salga) in June, which was eventuallystruck from the roll. Salga had raised concerns about the regulatory framework for implementing the phase, infrastructure and equipment readiness of issuing authorities, and the financial model for municipalities.