JB Marks Municipality Wraps Up Transport Month with AARTO Rollout and Road Safety Awareness Campaigns

As Transport Month 2025 draws to a close, the JB Marks Local Municipality’s Department of Community Safety, Roads and Transport Management continues to strengthen its commitment to road safety, education, and responsible driving. In partnership with the South African Police Service (SAPS), Blue Ribbon, and the Road Accident Fund (RAF), the municipality successfully launched a series of Drinking and Driving/Walking Awareness Campaigns across Potchefstroom and Ventersdorp, followed by the AARTO Rollout Awareness event at Trimpark Community Hall.

Image: JB Marks

Road Safety in Focus: Community Awareness at Taxi Ranks

The first awareness activation took place at the Potchefstroom Taxi Rank on 28 October 2025, followed by a second campaign held at the Ventersdorp Taxi Rank on 30 October 2025.

Led by MMC for Community Safety, Roads and Transport Management, Councillor Musa Leon Mkhabela, both events featured direct engagements with taxi operators, drivers, and commuters. The MMC addressed the dangers of driving or walking under the influence of alcohol, emphasising that road safety is a shared responsibility.

Through information sessions, educational materials, and community dialogue, the campaigns encouraged citizens to make responsible transport choices, particularly ahead of the festive season, a period often associated with increased road accidents.

Image: JB Marks

AARTO Rollout Awareness: Building Understanding and Accountability

Today’s event at Trimpark Community Hall in Potchefstroom marks the conclusion of Transport Month activities, shifting focus to the implementation of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) system.

This session brought together key stakeholders in the transport sector, including:

• North West E-Hailing Association

• Tlokwe E-Hailing Association

• Transit Aganang FM

• South African Meter Taxi & E-Hailing Association (SAMTEA)

• TLLDDA

AARTO representatives delivered detailed presentations explaining how the system will manage traffic offences through a demerit-based structure, streamline enforcement, and promote greater accountability among drivers. The session concluded with an interactive Question and Answer segment, allowing participants to engage directly with officials and clarify practical aspects of the rollout.

Image: JB Marks

Collaboration for Safer Roads

These joint initiatives highlight the municipality’s broader strategy to create safer, more responsible transport networks through continuous engagement, education, and enforcement. By combining public awareness with institutional reform, JB Marks aims to reduce accidents, strengthen compliance, and foster a culture of mutual respect among all road users.

The involvement of multiple partners, from law enforcement to local associations, demonstrates the power of collaboration in addressing long-term road safety challenges.

Summary

From awareness campaigns at busy taxi ranks to the formal AARTO rollout session, JB Marks Municipality has ended Transport Month with a strong, united message: safety begins with awareness, responsibility, and cooperation.

Through education, stakeholder engagement, and proactive leadership, the municipality continues to take meaningful steps toward building safer roads and saving lives, not just in October, but throughout the year.

#TheGoToGuy #TransportMonth2025 #JBMarksMunicipality #AARTOAwareness #RoadSafety #CommunityPartnership

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