The wheels are going round and round as the Rea Vaya bus network finally gets out the starting blocks - and Joburg will never be the same.

JOBURG has turned another corner - and this time the City is doing it inside its newly launched, fast moving and efficient bus service.

Joburg's Executive Mayor Amos Masondo and Minister of Transport Sibusiso Ndebele take a Rea Vaya bus ride (Photo: Enoch Lehung, City of Johannesburg)

Rea Vaya, the City's first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, officially started on Sunday, 30 August at the West Gate Station in the inner city. Never again would public transport in Johannesburg be the same, promised Executive Mayor Amos Masondo.

"It is no exaggeration that today is a historic day."

Masondo spoke briefly as the day was set aside for residents and government dignitaries to ride on the new bus service. With 3,5 million trips done by Joburg residents a day, it was time that the public transport experience was fitting of a world-class African City, he said.

"Yes, Rea Vaya's legacy will go beyond 2010."

Speaking after the mayor, Minister of Transport Sibusiso Ndebele said democracy was also about freedom of movement and the BRT was about the commuter.

"Going to work must not be a life-threatening and nail-biting experience. The BRT is about collective peace of mind. Today we start a special journey."

Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane was her usual feisty self and spoke off the cuff. She too promised residents that things would never be the same again.

And she had a strong message for the taxi industry: "The time has come for us to instil dignity, responsibility and maturity in how things are done in the taxi industry."

Three years ago
It had taken three years of hard work and even harder negotiations with taxi operators to get to the point at which Joburg was today, confirmed the member of the mayoral committee for transport, Rehana Moosajee.

"Three years ago, if you wanted to see a BRT system you had to fly halfway across the world," Moosajee said, referring to the visits the City and the taxi industry paid to South America to get a feel for the system in operation.

"Today, 25 kilometres of BRT lanes will be put to use for the first time and 40 buses will start what is termed a ‘starter service', giving the City an opportunity to test the system and to iron out any problem areas," she said.

The bus service took its maiden voyage on a hot and dusty end-of-winter day, the signs of summer felt as people flocked to get a taste of things to come. And before the wheels of the bus were fully warmed up by the hot tarmac the passengers were singing.

"Mahala BRT mahala, mahala BRT mahala," clearly enjoying the moment. Mahala means "for free".

Although Rea Vaya is not for free, passengers were impressed by the quality and the cost of the new service. Tickets cost R3 for the inner city loop, R5 for trunk routes and R8 for any number of transfers in two hours.

A smiling Waven Petersen said he was delighted with the new service and would be using it daily from Soweto to his fitter and turner job in Ellis Park.

"It is safe and affordable."

Operating company
In the meantime, consultations with the taxi industry continue.

The City of Johannesburg signed an interim six-month contract with a special purpose vehicle (SPV) on 28 August. The SPV will render bus operating services for Rea Vaya while negotiations with affected taxi operators are finalised.

It is 100 percent owned by a trust, the beneficiaries of which are the taxi operators affected by phase 1A of the system.

"In terms of the agreement, the interim company will provide bus operating, maintenance, as well as security services to the City," said Lisa Seftel, the City's executive director for transportation.

So far, 90 taxi drivers are in training to drive the BRT buses. While some are still completing their training, the majority of those in the starter service are manned by trained taxi drivers. They are trained by Metrobus drivers over a month.

Matthews Hkgomo is just one of the newly empowered taxi drivers. His shift began early on Monday morning, 31 August, when the starter service officially began operations.

He indicated that he could not talk right now, "because I am working". He looked comfortable behind the massive wheel, turning it with confidence into the narrow bus lanes.

It would have been a smooth and uneventful ride, but for a number of undisciplined Joburg motorists finding themselves inside the reserved bus lane.

But the South African Police Service inspectors present on the bus, on duty since one o'clock in the morning, made short shrift of the offenders. Another unruly group still in need of some discipline are the pedestrians and jay-walkers, clearly unconcerned by the massive weight advantage of the blue and red bus giants.

At least it gave Hkgomo the chance to use his hooter, a favourite remnant from his taxi-driving past.

During a quiet period, he indicated that driving a bus was no problem. "It is better than driving a taxi," he said.

There will be Rea Vaya ambassadors at all stations to help people with enquiries about routes, tickets and timetables.

For more information on the starter service, contact the Joburg Call Centre on 011 375 5555 or visit the Rea Vaya website.

Related stories:

• It is time for Rea Vaya to ‘vaya'
• Excitement greets BRT bus launch
• BRT will generate carbon credits