The Rea Vaya exhibition stand at this year's Rand Show offers a place where visitors can make queries, offer compliments and lodge complaints about the service. Helpful motoring and vehicle tips will also be on hand at the stall.

Lorraine Mapela, manager of information and safety at the City of Johannesburg’s transport department, mans the Rea Vaya stand

REA VAYA has secured its popularity on the local scene by setting up an informative and helpful exhibition stand at this year's Rand Show.

At the stand visitors can pick up free factual brochures on the bus system and talk about problems they may face with the Rea Vaya service.

There is also information about routes and times, and a list of the different stations where commuters can catch buses.

It has been estimated that between 600 and 700 people visit the stand daily to access information and make queries about the transport system.

"People come to the stand for different reasons. Some complain, while others compliment the system, and others enquire about buying shares," says Lorraine Mapela, manager of information and safety at the City of Johannesburg's transport department.

"We also get people visiting from other provinces who would like to see a system like the Rea Vaya being implemented in their areas," she adds.

Rea Vaya has had an exhibition stand at the Rand Show every year since 2008, when it was still in its conceptual phase.

Working together with Johannesburg Roads Agency and Public Safety Department, the Rea Vaya stand is a source of various road safety tips for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers. Visitors can also get general tips about vehicle tyres, brakes and lights at the stand.

The Rand Show – which kicked off on Friday, 22 April and runs until Monday, 2 May – is being held at the Johannesburg Expo Centre at Nasrec.

Tickets for the show are available at Computicket or at the gate at a cost of R75 for adults, R40 for pensioners and R25 for children between the ages of six and 16. Children under the age of six get in for free.

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