The formulation and implementation of the Bus Rapid Transit Network system (BRT) or Rea Vaya in the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) was met with different views from the Johannesburg general public. Some sections of the public accepted the BRT, while others rejected it. The reason for the initial rejection was the lack of public consultation, while those with a positive view conceded that the BRT was a good concept in transforming the public transport system of Johannesburg. This study investigated how the public participated in the BRT. The study was conducted through the qualitative research methodological approach. Primary in-depth interviews and documentary analysis were undertaken to answer the research question. The findings of the study indicate that public participation in the BRT was orchestrated haphazardly because of the lack of a proper governance system on public participation. The CoJ’s only concern appeared to be meeting the deadline to provide efficient transport services during the Confederations and World Cup Soccer tournaments of 2009 and 2010 respectively. The study concludes that the processes of engaging the public to participate in BRT formulation and implementation were flawed. The study finally recommends that the CoJ should develop governance systems on public participation.The systems should include a tailor-made public participation policy and institutional mechanisms to support critical engagement with the public.

South African cities are still largely unequal where the urban poor’s right to the city is not adequately addressed. As a result of the legacy of apartheid and the various housing policies that have been adopted to address housing segregation, Johannesburg remains spatially fragmented with the urban poor remaining isolated in the periphery of the city far from places of employment and opportunity. With the decentralization and deindustrialization of employment, commuting for the urban poor has become more time consuming and costly with an average monthly commute costing R1 500.00. The City of Johannesburg has committed to tackling these structural and spatial inequalities that exist in Johannesburg through its flagship programme called Corridors of Freedom. Corridors of Freedom aims to transform the spatial inequalities in Johannesburg through the creation of geographies of inclusion using transit oriented development (TOD). This is through investing in public transport with the development of the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit System (BRT) and inclusionary housing as the backbone to eradicate spatial. Corridors of Freedom aims to address housing segregation through the extension of the Rea Vaya BRT system in peripheral townships and through inclusionary housing provision to promote inclusive development in Johannesburg. This study will evaluate whether Corridors of Freedom and its associated developments have the potential to improve the lives of potential beneficiaries of two townships, Kagiso in the West Rand and Soweto. The study seeks to understand how the presence of the Rea Vaya BRT system can assist the urban poor’s access to the city and places of employment and opportunity. A comparison is made between Soweto residents who directly benefit from using the Rea Vaya buses and the Kagiso residents who do not have access to the Rea Vaya buses. Several stakeholders were interviewed including both the residents of Kagiso and Soweto. It was concluded that the Rea Vaya BRT system is a poverty-reduction strategy for the urban poor and an attempt from the City of Johannesburg to correct the existing spatial inequalities.The Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit system along with well-located social housing is an important step towards addressing inclusivity and bringing people close to places of employment and opportunity.

This study aimed at examining the social and economic effects of the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit system (BRT) on various stakeholders in Johannesburg. The objective of the study was to investigate the effect the Rea Vaya has had on users and non-users of the Rea Vaya system. The findings of this study suggest that the Rea Vaya is beneficial in that it provides an option in modes of transport for commuters, particularly for people who were historically disadvantaged and were not permitted to reside in the city during the apartheid era. BRT systems are designed to provide a safe, reliable and accessible public transport system. The Rea Vaya system is aimed at providing better public transport, reducing congestion, on public roads, improving the roads and creating jobs. The findings have shown that the Rea Vaya has not been successful in meeting all its aims. The Rea Vaya has not managed to provide an accessible transport system thus far. Traffic in the inner city has not been reduced as a modal shift has not yet occurred. Since the inception of the Rea Vaya system there has been resistance from the Taxi Industry. Despite negotiations and attempts made by the Municipality of the City of Johannesburg to include the Taxi Industry in the Rea Vaya system, by making them shareholders of the system, the findings presented affirms that there is still resentment and resistance from the Taxi Industry towards the Rea Vaya system. The loss of revenue since the introduction of the Rea Vaya has caused a challenge for Taxi owners. Not only is it alleged that the Rea Vaya has affected the Taxi Industry, but the Rea Vaya infrastructure has caused a number of problems for private car users in the City. Private car users are inconvenienced by the designated bus lanes and lack of road signage in the city. These conclusions affirm that the Rea Vaya is not beneficial to all stakeholders in the City of Johannesburg. The experiences and opinions of users and non-users suggest that the system has a number of deficiencies. However some users of the system have benefited socially and economically. For some of the users the Rea Vaya has created a few opportunities; however the poor customer service from bus drivers and station staff was seen as a setback. Transit Orientated development in Johannesburg has not yet taken off. The government’s attempts to create mixed land use through the implementation of corridors of freedom are in its infant stages. Businesses across the Rea Vaya station found the Rea Vaya to have both positive and negative effects on their businesses. Some businesses found that the development of stations have added aesthetic value, however due to the frequency of Rea Vaya buses at stations, commuters would not wait for long periods of time and this resulted in fewer customers for businesses across the Rea Vaya station. The Rea Vaya system has provided a safe and reliable transport system in Johannesburg. However, the system is in its infant stages and has a number of deficiencies as presented in the findings of this study. / Geography / M. Sc. (Geography)

This study aimed at examining the social and economic effects of the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit system (BRT) on various stakeholders in Johannesburg. The objective of the study was to investigate the effect the Rea Vaya has had on users and non-users of the Rea Vaya system. The findings of this study suggest that the Rea Vaya is beneficial in that it provides an option in modes of transport for commuters, particularly for people who were historically disadvantaged and were not permitted to reside in the city during the apartheid era. BRT systems are designed to provide a safe, reliable and accessible public transport system. The Rea Vaya system is aimed at providing better public transport, reducing congestion, on public roads, improving the roads and creating jobs. The findings have shown that the Rea Vaya has not been successful in meeting all its aims. The Rea Vaya has not managed to provide an accessible transport system thus far. Traffic in the inner city has not been reduced as a modal shift has not yet occurred. Since the inception of the Rea Vaya system there has been resistance from the Taxi Industry. Despite negotiations and attempts made by the Municipality of the City of Johannesburg to include the Taxi Industry in the Rea Vaya system, by making them shareholders of the system, the findings presented affirms that there is still resentment and resistance from the Taxi Industry towards the Rea Vaya system. The loss of revenue since the introduction of the Rea Vaya has caused a challenge for Taxi owners. Not only is it alleged that the Rea Vaya has affected the Taxi Industry, but the Rea Vaya infrastructure has caused a number of problems for private car users in the City. Private car users are inconvenienced by the designated bus lanes and lack of road signage in the city. These conclusions affirm that the Rea Vaya is not beneficial to all stakeholders in the City of Johannesburg. The experiences and opinions of users and non-users suggest that the system has a number of deficiencies. However some users of the system have benefited socially and economically. For some of the users the Rea Vaya has created a few opportunities; however the poor customer service from bus drivers and station staff was seen as a setback. Transit Orientated development in Johannesburg has not yet taken off. The government’s attempts to create mixed land use through the implementation of corridors of freedom are in its infant stages. Businesses across the Rea Vaya station found the Rea Vaya to have both positive and negative effects on their businesses. Some businesses found that the development of stations have added aesthetic value, however due to the frequency of Rea Vaya buses at stations, commuters would not wait for long periods of time and this resulted in fewer customers for businesses across the Rea Vaya station. The Rea Vaya system has provided a safe and reliable transport system in Johannesburg. However, the system is in its infant stages and has a number of deficiencies as presented in the findings of this study. / Geography / M. Sc. (Geography)