City of Johannesburg Suspends Rea Vaya Service in Soweto Amid Safety Concerns Following Drivers’ Murders

The City of Johannesburg has temporarily halted its Rea Vaya feeder bus services in Soweto after two drivers were tragically murdered earlier this month, following intense pressure from the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu). The suspension, which came into effect on February 3, has sparked significant outrage, especially after services resumed just two days later, which led to criticism from Samwu, a key Cosatu affiliate.

Samwu condemned the city’s decision to resume operations so soon, calling it “irresponsible and rushed.” The union argued that continuing the service under such circumstances was a breach of trust and placed both workers and commuters in jeopardy. The union pointed out that the murder of the drivers was a well-planned attack, with the perpetrators still at large and the potential for further violence remaining high. In light of these concerns, Samwu expressed deep dissatisfaction with the city’s promise to provide escorts for the 45 feeder buses, calling the measure insufficient and inadequate.

On Thursday, the municipality responded to the mounting concerns, officially announcing the suspension of the Rea Vaya feeder buses in Soweto. The decision was made after bus operating companies raised safety and security issues. The city assured the public that it was in active discussions with the bus operators to resolve these concerns, with plans to provide regular updates to commuters and residents.

Samwu, however, continued to challenge the effectiveness of the city’s response, arguing that even with the deployment of Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) escorts, the safety of drivers and commuters could not be guaranteed. “The city simply does not have the fleet capacity to ensure adequate protection,” the union stated, calling for an immediate suspension of all Rea Vaya operations until safety could be fully assured.

In a statement on Friday, City of Johannesburg’s member of the mayoral committee for transport, Kenny Kunene, explained that taxi associations in Soweto had stopped the Rea Vaya buses at Thokoza Park. Kunene added that a meeting had been scheduled between the city’s mayor, Dada Morero, and local taxi associations for Tuesday to address the issue. He also clarified that the Rea Vaya buses were legally operating on designated routes that had been allocated to them for the past 15 years, stating that taxis are not licensed to operate on those routes.

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com