Joburg’s Rea Vaya buses to go cashless

The new buses come despite the placement of Pio-Trans, a company which operates the Rea Vaya bus service, under business rescue.

The High Court in Johannesburg placed Pio-Trans under business rescue in December amid allegations of corruption and maladministration.

Rea Vaya buses, however, remain operational.

“This is the first batch of buses that is coming in,” said Kunene at a press conference.

"They are all going to be branded Rea Vaya. These are going to be the feeder buses.”

The Rea Vaya service faced a number of issues over the past year, including labour disputes and payment disputes, which led to the disruption of services on more than one occasion.

Kunene vowed that there would be consequences for those who are responsible for the financial woes at Pio-Trans.

"My message to the officials is that if your heart was here to destroy Pio-Trans, you better run. To the mechanics who have been destroying the buses, run.

"If you are found destroying these buses, you will be dealt with like a dog deals with a bone. Pio-Trans is delivering a service of bus operation on behalf of the City of Johannesburg, so we will not sit back.”

Kunene also revealed that the city is working on plans to install a cashless system on the Rea Vaya buses. 

"We want to introduce a cashless system in the buses so that the drivers can deal with that evil that makes them take money and put it in their pockets.  When you take money and put it in your pocket, you are destroying your job because when Pio-Trans shuts down, you are going to lose your job.”

At the same briefing, Rea Vaya Acting Director Benny Makgoga said the placing of Pio-Trans under business rescue will protect the interests of the shareholders. 

"We welcome the business rescue because it is going to give us a new lease of life of moving forward to ensure that the interests of the shareholders are protected. So we are working hand-in-hand with the business rescue practitioner.”

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