Gauteng's week of carnage as scores lose their lives on the roads

Gauteng has seen at least three separate accidents this week, resulting in the loss of fourteen lives.

On 3 September, five people died in a devastating taxi crash after it overturned on the N1 North freeway in Midrand, leaving the community in shock and authorities scrambling to respond.

The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department confirmed that the accident involved a single minibus taxi that overturned on the N1 North freeway.

“A single-vehicle accident involving an overturned minibus taxi has occurred on the N1 North between the Buccleuch Interchange and Allandale Road in Midrand,” said JMPD spokesperson Superintendent Xolani Fihla.

Fihla added that the accident has resulted in multiple injuries and, tragically, five confirmed fatalities and a case of culpable homicide was opened.

“A case of culpable homicide will be opened for further investigation into the cause of the accident,” he added.

Authorities are now placing their hopes on the new traffic law to reduce accidents on our roads.

This accident comes shortly after another on Sunday, where six people lost their lives when the car they were in plunged into the Zonkizizwe River in the City of Ekurhuleni.

Early on Monday, IOL reported, three people were killed and two others were injured in an accident in Germiston.

The Road Traffic Infringement Authority (RTIA) has stated that the recently gazetted Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Amendment Act (AARTO) is aimed at tackling South Africa’s persistently high road fatality rate.

“Its main key intention is to really assist, to ensure that you reduce the number of fatalities that occur on our roads,'' said RTIA spokesperson Monde Mkalipi.

''And above all, AARTO provides road users with some rights and options they can take advantage of, in terms of resolving their traffic infringements. By doing so, that is going to increase their compliance with traffic laws,” Mkalipi. added.

As outlined in the Government Gazette published on August 1, most sections of the Act will be implemented in major municipalities on December 1, 2025, with the remaining municipalities following on April 1, 2026. Sections 26 to 28, expected to introduce the demerit points system, are scheduled to take effect on September 1, 2026.

In July, RTIA said service outlets had been created across the country and over 25,000 traffic officers were currently being trained to implement the new system within the confines of the law.

Here is how the Demerit System Works:

All drivers will begin with zero demerit points, with traffic violations assigned points depending on their severity, up to a maximum of six. While minor offences may carry no points, serious criminal violations typically incur the full six points.

Demerit points are assigned to various documents such as learner’s licences, driving licences, vehicle licence discs, operator cards and road transport permits. AARTO demerit points are assigned when fines are paid, enforcement orders are issued, or upon conviction by a court, and paying the fine does not prevent the issuing of points.

A learner driver can accumulate up to six demerit points without losing driving privileges, while a fully licensed driver can accumulate up to 15. 

Points are reduced by one every three months until they reach zero. If the demerit points exceed the specified thresholds, the relevant document is suspended for three months per excess point, during which driving is prohibited.

Most documents can be suspended twice, and exceeding the threshold a third time leads to cancellation, except for vehicle licence discs and operating permits. 

Those allowing a person with a suspended licence to drive their vehicles will incur a R3,500 fine.

The Star

masabata.mkwananzi@inl.co.za