Rea Vaya commuters left in limbo 2 days after suspension of services

JOHANNESBURG - Two days after Rea Vaya bus services were suspended, the city of Johannesburg has yet to find a solution.

Thousands of commuters who rely on the Bus Rapid Transport system - which spans over 75km - have been forced to find alternative transport after two drivers were shot in Soweto on Monday.

The motive behind the attacks remains unclear, and no arrests have been made.

Rea Vaya service disruptions have become increasingly common in recent years sometimes linked to taxi violence, wage disputes and now murder.

Just last year, tensions flared between taxi associations and Rea Vaya operator PioTrans over alleged non-payments dating back nearly two decades. That standoff resulted in days of delays.

Following this week’s attacks, Johannesburg Transport MMC Kenny Kunene has offered a R100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the shooters.

All 58 stations remain closed, despite the city’s promise on Tuesday that services would resume on Thursday under police watch.

The metro says the suspension will remain indefinitely until a secure solution is found.

“Until further notice, pending a plan of action to escort and protect drivers and buses from further possible attacks.”