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In a decisive move to bolster road safety and restore discipline across Gauteng’s public transport sector, the Gauteng Traffic Inspectorate (GTI), in partnership with the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), has executed a series of high-impact stop-and-search operations across major metropolitan corridors.
The week-long enforcement initiative, conducted under the banner of the #RemoveSkorokoro campaign from August 3 to August 9, 2026, targeted high-risk routes in Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, Mogale City, and Sebokeng. The primary objective was to root out mechanically unsafe vehicles, curb widespread regulatory non-compliance, and combat lawlessness on the province’s busiest transit networks.
Severe Mechanical Defects Lead to Discontinuations
The operational findings highlight critical safety concerns within the public transport fleet. During the crackdown, officers removed 14 minibus taxis from service after discovering severe, life-threatening mechanical defects, including faulty braking systems, dangerously worn tyres, and defective vehicle lighting.
In total, law enforcement officers issued 20 formal discontinuation notices to non-compliant vehicles across the province:
- Johannesburg: 13 notices issued
- Ekurhuleni: 5 notices issued
- Tshwane: 2 notices issued
Beyond structural and mechanical failures, the operations exposed widespread administrative non-compliance among operators. Inspectorate officers caught 48 minibus taxi drivers operating without valid driving licences, while 43 vehicles were found operating with expired or missing licence discs.
High-Tech and Manual Interventions Overhaul Compliance
To enforce accountability, the GTI deployed a hybrid strategy utilizing both traditional and modern law enforcement tools. Over the course of seven days, the Inspectorate issued more than 500 manual Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) infringement notices.
Additionally, the GTI leveraged its digital e-Force devices to process 647 electronic infringement notices across key regions:
- Johannesburg: 254 electronic notices
- Tshwane: 252 electronic notices
- Ekurhuleni: 64 electronic notices
- Mogale City: 49 electronic notices
- Sebokeng: 26 electronic notices
Provincial Leadership Demands Industry Accountability
Commending the joint efforts of the GTI and RTMC, Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, reiterated that passenger safety remains non-negotiable for the provincial government.
“A public transport vehicle that is mechanically unsafe has no place on Gauteng’s roads,” said MEC Diale-Tlabela. “Discontinuing these vehicles is not about disrupting public transport; it is about preventing avoidable crashes and ensuring that every passenger who uses public transport vehicles can do so with confidence that their safety is guaranteed.”
Addressing ongoing engagements with taxi associations, the MEC urged industry leadership to actively clamp down on the use of unlicensed and unqualified drivers, describing the practice as a direct threat to public safety and provincial road safety commitments.
MEC Diale-Tlabela warned that sustained, joint stop-and-search operations will continue across Gauteng corridors to ensure lawfulness, eliminate unroadworthy vehicles, and hold non-compliant operators accountable.
