By In a decisive move to restore safety and compliance across South Africa’s economic hub, the Gauteng Transport Inspectorate (GTI) has intensified its province-wide enforcement operations targeting non-compliant public transport operators.
Spearheaded alongside the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and partner law enforcement entities under the #RemoveSkorokoro campaign, the initiative has laid bare alarming levels of driver and vehicle non-compliance in the minibus taxi industry.
Alarm Spikes Over Driver Unlicensed Status and Unroadworthy Vehicles
During August 2026, GTI officers conducted high-impact stop-and-search blitzes along critical transport corridors to audit vehicle roadworthiness, check licensing documentation, and enforce adherence to transport legislation.
The audit painted a grim picture of commuter safety:
- Unlicensed Drivers: Officers intercepted 296 minibus taxi drivers operating without valid driving licenses.
- Unlicensed Vehicles: A total of 268 minibuses were caught operating without valid license discs.
- Impoundments & Discontinuations: Inspections led directly to 13 minibuses being impounded and 84 vehicles being permanently discontinued from service due to severe unroadworthiness.
Inspectors cited widespread, critical defects during the blitz, including cracked windscreens, torn or damaged seats, persistent engine-related faults, and hazardous mechanical defects that placed passengers and motorists at immediate risk.
Enforcement Figures: AARTO Infringements and Criminal Arrests
The campaign triggered significant legislative enforcement, with GTI issuing thousands of notices and securing multiple arrests for serious criminal conduct. Across Gauteng, officers issued 97 discontinuation notices, led by 74 in Johannesburg, 10 in Ekurhuleni, 7 in Tshwane, 4 in Mogale City, and 2 in Sebokeng.
To enforce long-term accountability, authorities leveraged both manual and digital traffic systems:
- Handwritten AARTO Notices: Over 2,000 manual infringement notices were issued, with heavy concentration in Sebokeng (1,170), Ekurhuleni (516), Johannesburg (443), Tshwane (438), Mogale City (150), and the Sedibeng District Municipality (28).
- Digital e-Force Enforcement: An additional 3,517 electronic notices were logged via handheld e-Force devices. Primary breakdown included 1,629 in Johannesburg, 942 in Tshwane, 393 in Ekurhuleni, 301 in Mogale City, 182 in Sebokeng, and 70 in Sedibeng.
Beyond vehicle defects, the blitz targeted criminal behaviour on the road, resulting in 16 arrests for severe offenses including driving under the influence (DUI), fraud, and attempted bribery.
Government Reaction: “Potential Death Traps”
Responding to the operational findings, Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, emphasized that operating deficient public vehicles cannot be treated as ordinary administrative non-compliance.
“There is no justification for putting passengers and other road users at risk by operating vehicles that are mechanically unsafe or allowing incompetent and unlicensed drivers to take to our roads,” MEC Diale-Tlabela stated. “A vehicle with defective brakes, worn tyres or faulty lights is not merely non-compliant; it is a potential death trap. Equally, operating without a valid licence disc or allowing an unlicensed driver behind the wheel undermines the safety efforts and integrity of the entire public transport system.”
Off-Ramp for Operators: Taxi Recapitalisation Programme Reopens
To curb the proliferation of unroadworthy minibuses permanently, MEC Diale-Tlabela urged non-compliant operators to utilize the National Department of Transport’s Taxi Recapitalisation Programme (TRP). The initiative provides a financial exit route for taxi owners operating older, dangerous vehicles.
Under TRP guidelines, qualifying taxi operators can surrender unroadworthy vehicles for official scrapping in exchange for a government-backed scrapping allowance intended to assist with purchasing newer, fully compliant vehicles. Only minibus vehicles registered before 04 September 2006 qualify for the current scrapping process.
Regional Contact Details for TRP Submissions
Taxi operators looking to scrap eligible vehicles can visit designated Transport Operating License Administrative Body (TOLAB) offices:
- Johannesburg TOLAB: 45 Commissioner Street, Marshalltown
- Tshwane TOLAB: 230 Lilian Ngoyi Street, Tshwane Central
- Ekurhuleni TOLAB: 1 Hardach Street, Germiston
- West Rand TOLAB: Kagiso Drive & Mmusi Street, Kagiso
- Sedibeng TOLAB: 45 Commissioner Street, Marshalltown
Operators can also visit the Derek Masoek Regional Office at 37 Village Road, Wemmer, Johannesburg (opposite JMPD offices). Direct inquiries can be made to Ms. Dineo Ntseare at (011) 355 7595 or Ms. Lindiwe Radebe at (011) 355 7484 during regular business hours.
