Transport dept: Aarto not delayed again

Claims that the roll-out of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (Aarto) Act has been delayed again are not true, the national transport department said on Wednesday.

It was reacting to a statement by Justice Project South Africa, which said the Aarto Act and its points-demerit system, which was supposed to come into effect on or by April 1, had again been delayed.

Department spokesperson Logan Maistry said Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele had not announced the date for the roll-out yet.

“The minister has not announced any date as yet. Once the minister is fully satisfied that the national roll-out of Aarto may proceed, a date will be announced accordingly.”

He explained that Aarto’s roll-out in 2010 was postponed following representations from various sectors, including certain provinces, municipalities and organised labour.

“The roll-out of Aarto is envisaged during the new financial year, which commences on April 1, 2011 and ends on March 31, 2012.”—Sapa