Johannesburg Public Transport: what are the present options?
Minibus taxis
Introduced throughout South Africa in 1977, these 15-seater minibuses grew into a massive virtually unregulated industry. As their name suggests, they are more akin to small buses than to traditional taxis or cabs which either roam or are called to a destination (see metered taxis below). Because of the low entry level requirements and the peak hour demands, there is fierce competition, with many taxi drivers notorious for ignoring the road rules, driving unsafe vehicles and overloading with too many passengers. They operate without formal stops and timetables, with taxi routes mushrooming on ‘grass roots’ demand. Various signs are used to indicate a commuter’s destination: forefinger pointed in the air for central town, finger pointed down for a local trip, amongst others. Divided into various Associations (183 in Gauteng alone) there is fierce competition between both the Associations as well as the fleet owners, often resulting in violent clashes.
In 2000, Government introduced a four-year taxi re-capitalisation programme in its attempt to formalise the industry and to take unsafe vehicles off the road and replace them with 18- and 35- seater minibuses. However this programme has not fully materialized and has added fuel to the fire of mistrust and tension between the taxi Associations and the Government, much of it centred on ownership-participation in the new Bus Rapid Transport System (See below)
Metered taxis
Calls are made to these drivers and cabs who collect from the given address. There are various companies such as Roses, Safe Cab, Corporate Cabs. The fares are quite hefty with for example a trip from O.R. Tambo International to Liz at Lancaster priced anywhere between R350 and R450 and more local trips starting around R70.
Metro Rail
Johannesburg’s metro railway system, like the minibus taxi system, is used almost solely by local commuters. It connects central Johannesburg to Soweto, Pretoria, and most of the satellite towns along the Witwatersrand. There are planned station upgrades at Nasrec, Mabopane and Doornfontein stations. However, the railway infrastructure was built prior to the mid 20th Century and covers only the older areas in the city’s south. There is currently no rail system to the northern areas, including the business districts of Sandton, Midrand, Randburg, and Rosebank.
Metro Buses
Although the City is trying to regenerate the bus service, according to the City’s own website www.joburg.org.za: ‘ for the average tourist planning simply to get from A to B, it may be a little while yet before the bus service provides a solution’. The company Metrobus is wholly owned by the City of Johannesburg and has a fleet of approximately 550 single and double-decker buses, which cover about 84 different routes in the city. The City’s main bus terminus is situated in the CBD at Gandhi Square, where there is an information kiosk regarding the Metrobus service. Presumably the BRT (See below) will gradually supercede this service. So watch this space.
PUTCO Buses
Putco (Public Utility Transport Corporation) was formed as a public bus transport company in 1945 and for many years was the major transporter of commuters (along with rail) on the Rand. However the mini bus taxi industry impacted severely on PUTCO which transported 353 million passengers in 1983, 120 million in 1991 and 82 million in 1994. The company delisted in 2005 in order to allow for a Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) scheme, empowering its more than 3300 employees. It remains largely a service used by commuters from Soweto to Johannesburg Central.
Private bus companies
In addition there are a number of private bus operators, such as Greyhound or Intercity, which focus on the inter-city routes, or on bus charters for touring groups.
by 
all i’m looking for is what bus takes me from William Nicol/Bryanston Drive to Blairgowrie.
Option: Bram Fischer (opp. M-Net)
Jan Smuts Road (Conrad Drive – Timber City)
Thomas Hi Sorry took so long to post reply. Check this link for bus routes and timetables. http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jhblive.com%2Flive%2Fkultcha_view.jsp%3Fkultcha_id%3D46843&h=7bb79 Good luck
Hi,
Does anyone know of a taxi that goes from Randburg taxi rank to conrad drive in Blairgowrie, or a bus that does a similair route. Either from Jan Smuts up Conrad, or from Braam Fisher down Conrad/Will Scarlett.
Thanks
Looking for a bus from soweto via empire road to Alexandra and times and bus numbers
I am looking for the timetable for PUTCO bus route from Melville Auckland Park to Woodmead, Sandton – URGENT PLZ
can you please assist wanting to know if there is a putco buss to an from midrand weekly
thank you
Don’t know about Putco buses; Suggest try and phone them for routes and timetable. Also look at http://www.gautengtransport.com. Plus look at the Gautrain Website for feeder buses to Midrand station and then from nearest Joburg station.
I wnt a bus frm monday to frday,frm soweto (meadolands) or johannesburg to pretoria or mamelodi(west),thnx I wll really appreciate yr help.it myt be putco or metrobus
I would like to find out if the is buses from Midrand to Randburg square
Is there a bus that goes to bryanston 4rm spruitview? If it is available can I get informatin about the time table
is there any possibility for metro bus to consider the possibility of establishing the bus route from krugersdorp to pretoria. there is no public transport for krugersdorp to pretoria and pretoria to krugersdorp as the total number of people working in pretoria has increased.
Can you please assist me, I’m looking for a bus from Soweto to braamfontein
Sorry -i don’t have information abour bus routes and bus schedules.
I’m in soweto looking for transport from Soweto, or johannesburg Cbd to Isando
Hi Mpho Sorry but can’t advise on detailed transport, You could try calling Metro Bus call centre 0860 562 874. But being a municipal organization I doubt you will get much joy. Like most things run by the City service levels are declining. Sad
hi i am looking for any bus service from kliptown to chloorkop
Hi
I run a guesthouse in Joburg and blog on things of interest in the City so blogged on transport issues. Sorry I can’t help with details of transport logistics. So sorry. Good luck
I need a can 4rm joburg to pretoria, seonna in sowe its whr im 4rm. How much is the cab?
I meant a cab sori
Hi am Looking for a bus to Rivonia Mellis Park from Leratong to and from and how much will I be paying a month for Putco
hi, i urgently need to know if there is any busses that run through greenside to bryanston? its very urgent as my job is relocating and i need to find a way to get there. thank you
I’m looking for transport to Midrand from surrounding townships.
staying in Noordwyk, midrand. looking for a bus/transport mon-fir to highveld (oxford park), centurion, and how much
Im looking for taxi ranks around Sandton, Rosebank, Bryanston, Melville and Randburg.
Im looking for taxi ranks in Bryanston, Rosebank, Sandton, Melville and Randburg.
Is there a bus service that runs from Braam Fischer Drive to 2nd Avenue Melville (along Beyers Naude towards UJ Kingsway campus)
Am looking for a minibus from PRETORIA to Krugersdorp
I would like to know where i can get a taxi from Johannesburg cbd to woodmead, sandton. PLease help Its quite urgent.
Looking for daily transport from Weltevreden Park (West Rand) to Parktown and return. Preferably a lift club, but if not, is there a bus service available?
Anybody out there able to help Debbie?
looking 4 a bus from soweto Naledi to Greenstone
hi there – i hope someone can help me – Im looking for public transport from Pelikan re,Randpark ridge to Culross rd Bryanston –
can ANYONE please help me with either taxi or bus routes nearby these two addresse
thank you
maureen
Hi, Are there taxis from Cosmo city( Brentwood Residential Complex to Inospace Metro Works(Strydom park)