Johannesburg: The Gauteng Provincial Government is taking significant steps to enhance road safety and enforce traffic laws through high-impact stop-and-search operations. This initiative is being spearheaded by the Gauteng Transport Inspectorate (GTI) in collaboration with the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC).
According to South African Government News Agency, the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) has implemented a series of coordinated operations aimed at addressing lawlessness, combating criminal activities, and improving adherence to traffic regulations, particularly in the public transport sector. During the week of 16-22 February 2026, intensified operations were carried out across Johannesburg and Tshwane, focusing on major public and scholar transport corridors identified as high-risk areas due to non-compliance and road safety violations.
The operations resulted in the discontinuation of 19 minibuses for failing to meet essential road safety standards and the issuance of discontinue notices to 60 vehicles. Defects such as faulty brakes, worn tyres, broken headlights, defective brake lights or indicators, and cracked windscreens were identified as serious threats to road users. Additionally, officers issued over 600 manual infringement notices and processed 877 electronic notices using GTI’s advanced e-Force devices to non-compliant public transport operators.
Further non-compliance was observed, with 89 minibus taxi operators driving without valid licenses and 54 minibuses operating without valid license discs. The GPG highlighted that operating a vehicle without a driving license is an offence that can lead to a fine, a criminal record, and/or vehicle impoundment if no licensed driver is available to take over.
Vehicle impoundments carry increasing financial penalties for first and subsequent offences, particularly for public transport operators. Officers also arrested fourteen motorists for various serious offences, including twelve for driving under the influence, one for fraud, and another for reckless and negligent driving.
Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, praised the GTI for its consistent and proactive enforcement efforts, reinforcing the Department of Roads and Transport’s zero-tolerance approach to negligence and non-compliance. She noted that these weekly results underscore the commitment to creating a safer, more compliant transport environment, with the discontinuation of 19 minibuses in a single week sending a clear message that Gauteng will not tolerate criminality or disregard for road regulations.
Diale-Tlabela emphasized that the stop-and-search operations are crucial to the province’s strategy for safer roads and traffic law enforcement. Through sustained visibility and decisive action, the Inspectorate continues to promote the province’s road safety message that lawlessness on public roads is unacceptable. The MEC also emphasized that removing unroadworthy vehicles is essential for protecting lives on public roads and urged patience and understanding during these operations.