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EFF GAUTENG CONDEMNS THE SUSPENSION OF REA VAYA FEEDER BUSES IN SOWETO
The Economic Freedom Fighters Gauteng vehemently rejects the unilateral decision by City of Johannesburg Mayor, Dada Morero, to suspend Rea Vaya feeder buses in Soweto. This ill advised decision, taken without consultation with affected communities and commuter structures, will directly deny the people of Soweto access to safe, affordable and reliable public transport.
The EFF is profoundly disgusted by this decision, which is clear profit-driven and intended to appease certain taxi associations at the expense of residents who depend on affordable public transport for their daily survival. This situation arises from the failure of political oversight bodies and taxi associations to find a common ground. The unfortunate victims of this misgovernance and poor leadership are ordinary working-class residents who truly need these feeder buses for daily mobility and survival.
The sitting MMC for Transport, Kenny Kunene, has equally demonstrated gross incompetence and a complete lack of capacity to govern a critical department. Instead of strengthening public transport systems, this office has been reduced to a vehicle for political patronage, corruption, and resource extraction for narrow party interests.
The EFF refuses to accept leadership that treats public transport as a private business to quick money rather than a public service. The EFF in Gauteng therefore demands the immediate reinstatement of all Rea Vaya feeder bus services serving Joburg residents, particularly in Soweto. We also demand a full public consultation process involving commuters, taxi associations, community
leadership, and transport stakeholders before any future decisions affecting public transport are taken. The City of Johannesburg must establish a permanent Transport Stakeholder Forum for Soweto, including taxi associations, commuter representatives, and municipal officials, to manage route integration and conflict resolution. The JMPD Rea Vaya Safety Unit must be strengthened immediately.
We welcome engagements with the MMC for Public Safety, Dr Mgcini Tshwaku who has committed to increasing police visibility on feeder bus routes to ensure commuter safety and restore public confidence. The EFF will engage the Gauteng Provincial Department of Transport and the City of Johannesburg to fast-track the issuing and regulation of operating permits for buses, ensuring legality, order, and stability in the sector.
We will also engage the Soweto Taxi Association to ensure that their role in the township economy is respected, while prioritising the right of residents to safe, efficient, and affordable public transport. At stake is not only transport policy, but the dignity and daily survival of the people. Public transport is a public good, not a bargaining chip for political elites.
We therefore call on the Mayor and his MMC for Transport to return the buses immediately. Failure to act will be met with intensified community mobilisation and political action. The people of Johannesburg cannot be governed through greed that is coupled with incompetence, arrogance and neglect.
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