Wanting to get around Soweto and Johannesburg? Consider taking the Rea Vaya. The Rea Vaya is a bus rapid system that launched in 2009 and runs through Soweto and central Johannesburg. The network will soon include destinations in the northern business districts of Johannesburg. The Sandton, Alexandra and Rosebank stations will be fully operational in the near future.
The City of Johannesburg aims to offer its residents a safe, affordable and efficient way to commute. With over 50 stations across Soweto and Johannesburg this may be the new best way for you to travel.
New to the system? Check out how you can successfully navigate it.
Your smartcard can be purchased at any of the Rea Vaya stations. For the latest bus fares, please see the table below.
| Journey length | 2020/21 Fares |
| 0 – 5km | R 8.50 |
| 5.1 – 10km | R10.30 |
| 10.1 – 15km | R12.60 |
| 15.1 – 25km | R14.90 |
| 25.1 – 35km | R16.00 |
| More than 35km | R17.10 |
| Single trip card | R22.00 |
| Double Trip Card | R42.00 |
Remember that you will need a minimum of R17.10 to board.
Bus Operating Times
The operating times are as follows;
Monday to Friday: 5am to 9pm, with buses running every 5 minutes between 5am to 8:30 am (peak hours) and every 15 minutes between 08:30 to 14:59pm (off peak).
Saturday: 5am to 7pm every 30 minutes
Sunday: 6am to 7pm every 30 minutes.
The Bus Routes
The Rea Vaya system has three main phases with smaller feeder routes that link the network.
PHASE 1 A
Phase 1A’s main route runs between Ellis Park, Doornfontein and Thokoza Park, Soweto. This route is supported by feeder routes in Soweto. The feeder routes operate from Protea Glen to Thokoza Park and from Eldorado Park to Lakeview. “The inner city circular route travels around the CBD, from Hillbrow and Braamfontein, to Ellis Park in the east and Chancellor House on the western edge of the city.”
PHASE 1B
The phase 1 B route connects Soweto to Johannesburg CBD and runs past some of the key public health centres and educational institutions.
The key stations that the system runs through include;
- Thokoza Park
- Noordgesig Extension
- Westbury
- Auckland Park
- Milpark
- Parktown
- Library Gardens in the Joburg CBD
“The route starts in Noordgesig in Soweto, and travels through Pennyville, New Canada, Highgate, Auckland Park and Braamfontein, to Parktown, Metro Centre and Rissik Street in the CBD.”
The key health care and educational institutions that are on this route include;
- Rahima Moosa
- Helen Joseph
- Charlotte Maxeke hospitals
Educational Institutions
- University of Johannesburg
- Wits University
- Milpark College
- Parktown Boys’ High School
- Barnato Park High School
The feeder routes that run to and from the following areas include;
- Leaglen
- Stormhill
- Florida
- Cresta
- Yeoville
- “Parktown There are also additional feeders in Soweto from Pimville and Mapetla. These routes are now linked to the Metro Centre Rea Vaya loop, which travels to the inner city via Braamfontein.”
PHASE 1C
The Phase 1C will run through Johannesburg central through Hillbrow, Yeoville, Orange Grove, Bramley, Wynberg, Alexandra to Sandton central
For more information and to view the details of the map, kindly visit the Rea Vaya website or the station nearest to you.
Credit: Rea Vaya