Rushed Aarto tender raises red flags

The Department of Transport is facing criticism over the pace of a major tender linked to the rollout of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act (Aarto).

The department is seeking a contractor to manage and operate key Aarto services for the next five years. The bid was published in early December, with companies initially given until 3 February to respond. That deadline was later pushed back by 10 days to 13 February.

Despite the extension, the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) says the process still appears hurried for a contract of this size and complexity.

Timeline of Aarto tender raises concerns

Outa has written to Transport Minister Barbara Creecy and the chairperson of the Road Traffic Infringement Agency, asking for clarity on how the tender is being handled.

The organisation argues that large, multi-year contracts require careful planning and adequate time for bidders to prepare detailed submissions. It says a short turnaround could limit competition and weaken oversight.

According to Outa, extending the deadline by a few days does not necessarily address the broader concern that the process may have been rushed from the start.

Why outsource?

Another issue raised is the decision to outsource functions that already sit within government structures.

The Road Traffic Management Corporation oversees national traffic administration systems through the NATIS platform, which connects directly with Aarto processes. Outa wants to know why these existing capabilities are not being used instead of appointing an external operator.

The group has called on the department to publish the business case behind the decision and explain how outsourcing will improve efficiency or service delivery.

Outa CEO Wayne Duvenage also said that traffic enforcement should not appear to be driven by commercial interests, especially when it involves fines and penalties imposed on motorists.

He warned that if the procurement process lacks transparency, it could undermine confidence in Aarto, which has already faced public resistance and legal challenges in the past.