Kedibone Diale-Tlabela
1Min
South Africa
Dec 16, 2025
More than 60 unroadworthy minibuses were discontinued from operating on Gauteng roads during a week-long series of high-impact stop-and-search operations aimed at improving road safety and cracking down on criminal activity in the public transport sector.
More than 60 unroadworthy minibuses were discontinued from operating on Gauteng roads during a week-long series of high-impact stop-and-search operations aimed at improving road safety and cracking down on criminal activity in the public transport sector.
The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport said the operations were carried out between 8 and 14 December 2025 across Johannesburg and Tshwane, targeting major public transport corridors during a long-week operational cycle.
The operations were led by the Gauteng Transport Inspectorate (GTI), working alongside the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), as part of the provincial government’s intensified festive-season road safety enforcement programme.
According to the department, 64 unroadworthy minibuses were discontinued from service, while a further 89 vehicles were issued with discontinuation notices for failing to comply with road safety regulations.
Enforcement officers also issued more than 800 manual infringement notices and processed 1,174 electronic infringement notices using GTI e-Force devices. Two vehicles were impounded for non-compliance.
The department said inspections further revealed widespread non-compliance within the minibus taxi industry, with 168 drivers found operating without valid driving licences and 147 minibuses running without valid licence discs.
Beyond traffic-related offences, the stop-and-search operations also netted suspects linked to serious criminal activity.
Police arrested two drivers for driving under the influence of alcohol, four people for contraventions of the Immigration Act, four suspects for fraud-related offences, one person for obstructing officers in the execution of their duties, and one for reckless and negligent driving.
Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela praised law enforcement teams for what she described as decisive action to restore order on the province’s roads.
“There will be zero tolerance for unroadworthy vehicles, reckless behaviour, or criminality on Gauteng’s roads. Our enforcement teams are acting decisively to protect commuters and ensure full compliance by public transport operators. Road safety is not negotiable, and those who undermine it will be dealt with without exception,” said Diale-Tlabela.
The department said stop-and-search operations remain a central pillar of Gauteng’s road safety and law enforcement strategy, with sustained visibility intended to reinforce the message that lawlessness will not be tolerated.
With a dedicated force of 96 officers, the Gauteng Transport Inspectorate said it remains committed to improving road safety, clamping down on illegal operations and upholding the rule of law across the province.
The department urged motorists and public transport operators to ensure full compliance with traffic laws, particularly during the busy festive travel period.
