By 
JOHANNESBURG — In an aggressive move to restore law and order on Gauteng’s high-risk public transport routes, the Gauteng Transport Inspectorate (GTI), working alongside the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), has arrested 14 motorists and taken dozens of hazardous vehicles off the roads.
The high-impact stop-and-search operations, executed between 13 and 19 July 2026 under the banner of the #RemoveSkorokoro campaign, swept across major metropolitan nodes including Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni. The initiative directly targets unroadworthy vehicles, regulatory non-compliance, and criminal activity disrupting the provincial transport network.
Key Enforcement Metrics
The week-long blitz yielded significant enforcement results across multiple categories of traffic and statutory violations:
- Arrests: Law enforcement officers detained 14 drivers for serious offenses ranging from fraud to driving under the influence (DUI). An additional two individuals were arrested for contravening the Immigration Act.
- Vehicle Discontinuations: Demonstrating a zero-tolerance stance on mechanical defects, officers discontinued 38 minibus taxis due to severe safety compromises, including faulty braking systems, dangerously worn tires, and broken headlights. A further 37 discontinuation notices were served on non-compliant motorists.
- Licensing Violations: Inspection teams intercepted 60 minibus taxi drivers operating without valid driving licenses and caught 50 operators running vehicles with expired license discs.
- AARTO Issuances: To enforce accountability, the inspectorate issued over 800 manual Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offenses (AARTO) infringement notices, complemented by 975 electronic notices processed via handheld e-Force digital units.
Ultimatum Issued for Operating Licences
Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, commended the joint task force for its steadfast commitment to public safety while issuing a direct ultimatum to public transport operators.
Addressing ongoing backlogs in permit compliance, MEC Diale-Tlabela urged minibus taxi and scholar transport operators who have been notified to collect their pending operating licenses to do so immediately.
“We urge all operators who have received SMS notifications or communication through their associations to collect their operating licences without delay,” stated MEC Diale-Tlabela. “Those who have received such notifications have until Friday, 14 August 2026, to collect their licences, failing which the Department will proceed with the cancellation process.”
The MEC noted that the department has made substantial headway in clearing application backlogs, shifting the burden of compliance entirely onto operators.
A Sustained Strategy for Road Safety
The #RemoveSkorokoro campaign remains a central column of Gauteng’s broader strategy to combat crime, curb road fatalities, and eliminate illegal operators from the public transport ecosystem. Industry stakeholders should anticipate continued high-visibility enforcement and strict regulatory oversight across major provincial corridors in the coming months.
