Today, Rea Vaya turns one – the first buses took to the road on 30 August 2009 – and commuters are full of praise for the efficient, well-priced system.

A YEAR ago, Rea Vaya was a novelty and the jury was still out on its effectiveness. Today, it is a popular, fully fledged rapid transit system, operating on designated routes in the inner city and Soweto.

Rea Vaya turns one today, having reached a number of milestones. Officially launched by Executive Mayor Amos Masondo and Minister of Transport Sibusiso Ndebele on 30 August 2009, it was designed to cut traffic congestion and curb excessive energy consumption and carbon emissions. The prime aim, however, was to provide a high quality and affordable bus service that was quick, safe and convenient.

The mayoral committee member for transport Rehana Moosajee greets commuters on Rea Vaya’s 1st birthday

Norman Mlambo from Orlando East in Soweto has been using Rea Vaya, the City's flagship public transport system, since it was launched. He is filled with praise, saying it has modernised public transport in Johannesburg. Rea Vaya has improved Joburg's infrastructure.

"It would be great if they could roll it out in the whole country. That would bring dignity to people who live in deprived areas," he says.

Mlambo says with Rea Vaya, Joburg is certainly moving with the times. "The service has been improving. There were teething problems at the beginning and customer service wasn't on scratch. But I've been monitoring everything and have seen the progress. Now things are in correct order and I'm satisfied because this proves that we are living in modern times."

Another benefit has been competition in the transport industry, Mlambo says. This is good for commuters because they now have a choice. "Rea Vaya makes things competitive for the taxi industry and this will force them to change their attitude as time goes."

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Thabo Mohale has also been using Rea Vaya since the first buses started running. He leaves his car at home in Orlando East and hops on Rea Vaya every day to go work in the inner city. Since its first day, he says, Rea Vaya has taken precedence over other modes of transport in the township.

Huge smiles from a Rea Vaya driver

"Rea Vaya is the best transport we have so far. The system has changed a lot of people's lives because they can now wake up comfortably and can still arrive early at work. I don't remember any day that I was ever late since I started using Rea Vaya," he says.

He, too, thinks the system should be rolled out across the whole of Soweto - and be replicated around the country. "That would benefit all of us and not only those who live near its routes," he says, adding that ticket prices are fair as they accommodate people of different income brackets.

Phindile Ntuli is a sophisticated lady who dresses to the nines – and who also took her first Rea Vaya bus on its first day of operation.

She prefers it because it is convenient, clean and reliable; she is satisfied, she says, with it as her main mode of transport. "Rea Vaya is quicker, convenient and peaceful; usually I'm in Joburg within 20 minutes."

Introducing monthly and weekly ticket packages would be ideal for regular commuters like her. "I use Rea Vaya every day so maybe they should consider people like me and introduce monthly or weekly packages. That way, things will be easier for us and we won't have to buy dailies all the time."

THOKOZA PARK

Itumeleng Lephoro is a marshal at the station. She is enthusiastic about Rea Vaya's first anniversary. "We are happy that the system is celebrating its first year anniversary," she says.

With Rea Vaya, Lephoro says, Sowetans have a suitable alternative in public transport and can travel safely and comfortably. "The fact that they have designated seats for pregnant and elderly people shows how sophisticated the system is."

ON TIME

Charles Mbali boards Rea Vaya at Thokoza Park Station around 8.30am every morning; he has to be at work by 9am. He also started using the system on its first day of operation. "The system is fine; it's doing fine. Although there were minor hiccups during the World Cup, that was to be expected," he says.

A commuter writes best wishes on a Rea Vaya birthday card

The customer service he receives from the bus drivers and the station personnel is satisfactory. "Rea Vaya has given me a lot of convenience. Now I can wake up later than I used to and still get to work on time. It cuts down the traffic and the bus is always on time. I know I can rely on it," he explains.

But there is still room for improvement. "They should maybe improve customer service at other stations because there have been some reports of ill-treatment, but otherwise everything is perfect," Mbali says. "Even our kids love the bus. Sometimes when I want to travel to town in my car, the kids say they want to use Rea Vaya because they like being free and playing around in the bus."

He also believes the pricing system is reasonable. "The price system is fine. In the taxi you'll pay R9 and here you only pay R6, so one can save that R3 and add another R2 to buy a loaf of bread," he says banteringly.

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