By GAUTENG — In a robust push to secure high-risk public transport corridors, the Gauteng Transport Inspectorate (GTI), alongside the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and multi-agency law enforcement units, has intensified its high-impact enforcement campaign.
Operating under the banner of the #RemoveSkorokoro initiative, recent sweep operations targeting major metropolitan municipalities have laid bare a startling depth of regulatory non-compliance within the province’s taxi sector.
A Week of Sweeping Non-Compliance
Data released for the week of 07 to 13 September 2026 underscores persistent disregard for passenger safety and road traffic legislation. During this reporting window, inspectors identified 187 minibuses operating without valid licence discs, alongside 78 drivers steering public transport vehicles without holding valid driving licences.
The crackdown also forced the immediate discontinuation of 25 unroadworthy minibuses deemed an imminent hazard to commuters and fellow motorists. Mechanical inspections revealed critical defects, including failing braking systems, dangerously worn tyres, non-functional headlights, brake lights, and faulty indicators.
Enforcement Across Metros and Fine Totals
Law enforcement officers maintained a relentless presence across Gauteng’s economic hubs, resulting in substantial ticketing and processing statistics:
- Handwritten AARTO Notices: A total of 1,033 infringement notices were issued, broken down across regions as follows: Johannesburg led with 404 notices, Tshwane recorded 294, Ekurhuleni logged 167, Sedibeng issued 85, and Mogale City accounted for 83.
- Electronic e-Force Infringements: An additional 1,280 notices were processed electronically, comprising 526 in Johannesburg, 298 in Tshwane, 256 in Ekurhuleni, 105 in Sedibeng, and 95 in Mogale City.
- Discontinuation Notices: A broader total of 42 vehicle discontinuation notices were served across the province, with Johannesburg tallying 17, Tshwane 11, Ekurhuleni 7, Mogale City 4, and Sedibeng 3.
Arrests and Zero Tolerance Stance
Beyond vehicle and documentation faults, the blitz yielded 16 direct arrests. The charges reflect a dangerous cocktail of violations: nine individuals were apprehended for driving under the influence (DUI), six for contraventions of the Immigration Act, and one for bribery.
Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, delivered a stern warning against rogue operators compromising commuter safety.
“We will not tolerate drivers continuing to operate without valid driving licences or minibuses being operated without valid licence discs,” MEC Diale-Tlabela stated. “Those who disregard the law are putting the lives of passengers and other road users at risk. Enforcement operations will continue, and non-compliant drivers and vehicles will be removed from our roads”.
While tightening the enforcement noose, the Department has emphasized that dialogue with the broader minibus taxi industry remains active to address root causes of non-compliance and forge sustainable regulatory solutions. For now, however, the message from the GTI remains clear: unsafe vehicles and rogue drivers have no place on Gauteng’s public routes.
