Latest news with #ReaVaya
eNCA
20-05-2025
- Business
- eNCA
Rea Vaya bus system in crisis
JOHANNESBURG -City of Johannesburg's Rea Vaya bus services is in shambles. According to a new report the city has lost over R300 million in grant funding due to poor performance. To make matters worse, the Reya Vaya bus service has not spent any of its R546 million budget this year. MMC Kenny Kunene says they are dealing with long-standing issues some of which started 16 years ago. Among those issues are delays in procurement for buses as well as the processing of the licenses and permits for taxi's. "Its not an issue of corruption but rather the delivery of these buses," he says. Despite this the MMC maintains that wheels are in motion. He says new gates have been opened and stations are being renovated.
The Citizen
13-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Here is the deadline for the coming Rea Vaya smart card switch
Rea Vaya commuters will need to purchase a new orange card in order to comply with the upgraded Account Based Ticketing system. Rea Vaya bus service users are reminded to switch out their rider cards before the looming deadline. The bus service will be phasing in the Account Based Ticketing (ABT) system and moving away from the automated fare collection system. The switch is part of a multi-million-rand project to improve the fare collection system, which was implemented to promote cashless operations. New card purchase needed, no refunds The new orange ABT card will be mandatory from 1 July, but the current blue smart card will no longer accept funds from next month. 'Commuters are informed that from 1 June they won't be able to load funds into a blue smart card,' stated Rea Vaya. 'We advise for the funds in the card to be used up as there will be no refund,' the entity clarified. The new orange cards will cost R50 and correspond to newly installed payment processors located at all Rea Vaya stations and buses. Commuters are warned to be mindful of the new system, as they will be subject to fines for not using the new validators correctly. '[A] fare penalty charge of R30 is incurred when passengers tap-in at the beginning of the journey but fail to tap-out at the end of the journey. 'You will also incur a penalty of R30 if you do not tap-out of the system within two hours,' Rea Vaya stated. Rea Vaya Phase 1C The municipality budgeted R300 million over two years to implement the ABT project and R170 million to finish Phase 1C of the Rea Vaya programme. The Rea Vaya routes — Phases 1A, 1B and 1C — are owned by taxi operators and other shareholders under the Bus Operating Company Agreement (Boca) negotiated with the city. The launch of Phase 1C is imminent, after delays in the 12-year agreement sealed with the Alexandra Taxi Association and Alexandra Randburg Midrand Sandton Taxi Association. Rea Vaya has been plagued by management issues, with Phase 1C delayed by the inability to form an operating company, while earlier operators PioTrans needed to go into business rescue in 2023. MMC for Transport Kenny Kunene stated that the Johannesburg Development Agency has assisted with infrastructure challenges and that it now has the necessary resources to deliver. 'The city has invested significant resources in training operators and drivers to enable them to successfully and safely run the new bus operating company,' said Kunene. NOW READ: AA warms of 'significant implications' of underfunding Rea Vaya bus service
The Citizen
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Joburg's Rea Vaya BRT in peril with R313m public transport grant at risk
The City of Johannesburg has come under fire following the loss of a R313m public transport grant due to chronic operational failures in the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. The Automobile Association (AA) has labelled the forfeiture 'a blow to road users, low-income commuters, and public confidence', highlighting growing concern over the city's ability to manage its faltering transport infrastructure. Related: All of the CAR Magazine Top 12 Best Used Buys for 2025 The lost grant — originally earmarked to support and expand the Rea Vaya network — was forfeited after Johannesburg failed to meet operational and performance criteria. The AA warns this is more than a bureaucratic hiccup and is a missed opportunity that directly affects thousands of residents who rely on public transport to access work, education and basic services. Looking for a new set of wheels? Find it here with CARmag. 'This is not just a financial loss; it's a missed opportunity to improve the lives of thousands of Johannesburg residents who depend on public transport,' says AA CEO Bobby Ramagwede. The Rea Vaya system has long been troubled by incomplete corridors, limited routes and underutilised buses, leaving many commuters stranded or forced to rely on more expensive alternatives like minibus taxis, which have seen fare hikes. With the Gautrain only serving select areas, affordable mobility options are dwindling fast, especially for lower-income groups. For Johannesburg's increasingly congested roads and growing population, this setback is particularly damaging. The AA notes that the grant's loss is 'a chronic inability to plan, execute and maintain public transport systems with integrity, transparency, and accountability'. Related: 2025 Toyota GR Yaris Pricing Unearthed The consequences stretch beyond infrastructure. Without a reliable, inclusive public transport system, residents are nudged further towards private car use, putting added pressure on already strained roadways, increasing safety risks, and further harming the environment. This comes at a time in the country's history where it is grappling with precarious fuel costs, steep vehicle maintenance expenses and underdeveloped road infrastructure. The AA is calling on the City of Johannesburg to urgently prioritise rehabilitation of the Rea Vaya system and engage with civil society and national government to reset the course of public transport planning. 'We cannot afford to waste time or resources,' says Ramagwede. 'Johannesburg residents need a transport system that works — and leadership that makes it happen.' Browse thousands of new and used cars here with CARmag. The post Joburg's Rea Vaya BRT in Peril With R313 Million Public Transport Grant at Risk appeared first on CAR Magazine. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.
The Citizen
05-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
AA warms of ‘significant implications' of underfunding Rea Vaya bus service
The Johannesburg municipality says minibus taxis still account for 91% of monthly trips, leaving Rea Vaya and Metrobus lagging behind. The Automobile Association of South Africa (AA) is lamenting a potential public transport crisis brewing in Johannesburg. The entity accused Rea Vaya of mismanagement, which has dented public confidence and impeded low-income commuters. Despite having millions earmarked for bus services in the coming financial year, the AA believes more needs to be done to provide customers with an attractive public alternative. 'Not just a financial loss' The AA stated that the Johannesburg municipality had lost more than R300 million from a public transport grant due to operational failures. 'Originally earmarked to support and expand the Rea Vaya network, the lost funding carries significant implications, not only for the city's mobility agenda but for road users, particularly for low-income commuters who rely on affordable and reliable transport options,' stated the AA on Monday. 'This is not just a financial loss, it's a missed opportunity to improve the lives of thousands of Johannesburg residents who depend on public transport to access work, education, and essential services,' stated AA CEO Bobby Ramagwede. The AA added that the cost of private vehicle ownership was prohibitive and that public transport was a vital avenue for the personal movement of the poor. 'The implications of this funding go beyond mismanagement: they highlight a chronic inability to plan, execute, and maintain public transport systems with integrity, transparency, and accountability,' the AA added. Budget for Rea Vaya and Metrobus In the Johannesburg municipality's 2025/26 Integrated Development Plan (IDP), the city states that 10.2 million trips are made monthly via minibus or taxi. The city states that this accounts for 91% of all public transport trips in Johannesburg, leaving Rea Vaya and Metrobus trailing. The IDP states that Metrobus serviced 3.3 million passengers via 229 routes in the last financial year, while the Department of Transport aims to have Rea Vaya facilitating 13 million passenger trips annually by the end of the year. Rea Vaya's proposed budget for the coming year includes R12.5 million for land acquisition, R25 million for station rehabilitation and R150 million for an automated fare collection system. For Metrobus, at least R90 million has been proposed for the entity for the next financial year, including R32 million for new Metrobuses. New route to success The AA's sentiments suggest that the funding would be in vain if Rea Vaya did not develop a clear vision of its future. 'Without decisive action and a turnaround strategy, Johannesburg risks further isolating low-income communities and increasing reliance on private vehicles, which could worsen traffic congestion, road safety risks, and environmental strain,' the AA stated. The entity called for engagement with civil society and collaboration with national stakeholders to help realise Rea Vaya's potential. 'We cannot afford to waste time or resources. Johannesburg residents need a transport system that works — and leadership that makes it happen,' NOW READ: R140m Rea Vaya depot stalls as informal settlement blocks progress
