As Soweto approaches one year of suspended Rea Vaya feeder bus services, Johannesburg MMC for Transport Kenny Kunene lays the blame on Mayor Dada Morero, stating that his ‘unilateral decision’ is costing the City millions. Johannesburg MMC for Transport and Patriotic Alliance mayoral candidate Kenny Kunene has called for executive mayor Dada Morero’s resignation due to the Bus Rapid Transit Rea Vaya feeder system having been suspended for nearly a year, costing the City R9.2-million per month. Kunene addressed the media on 28 January 2026 at the Noordgesig Rea Vaya station in Soweto, which is undergoing upgrades in anticipation of the suspended services being resumed.
The 45 feeder buses were introduced in November 2024 to expand access to the Rea Vaya bus system for travellers in Soweto. However, the services were quickly suspended following outrage from the taxi industry, which claimed the buses had not been properly registered. The services were resumed and suspended again inFebruary2025 following more protest action from the taxi industry and the killing of two feeder bus drivers.
They have not resumed. The suspended feeder bus system has caused significant delays throughout the system, leaving users frustrated by the unreliable bus schedules and lack of communication. “It is the persistent delays for me.
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And the fact that I don’t get communication on time is also a problem because I need to find alternative transport,” said Rea Vaya commuter Nancy Chauke from Chiawelo in Soweto. “I need to know if I will have to go to Midway to get a train when the buses are running late. With the train I know it will take me an hour to get to the Johannesburg CBD.
The Rea Vaya system has simply become unreliable.” Some residents have opted out of the Rea Vaya system entirely. “As of next month [February], I will be buying a train monthly ticket,” Soweto resident Poppy Mashileane told Daily Maverick on Tuesday. “Most of my friends have dumped Rea Vaya for the morning train, but I wanted to be sure train services were reliable, and they are.
I am tired of often running late because of Rea Vaya. When the buses are not late, the ticketing/tap system isn’t functional.” Kunene publicly distanced himself from the issue on Thursday, 22 January when he released a statement calling the suspension a “unilateral decision” by Morero. Morero rejected this in a statement on the same day, calling it “misleading” and saying: “Matters of this nature should be addressed through established executive governance processes before any public commentary that could misinform residents or undermine confidence in the City’s leadership.”
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