Rea Vaya bus service resumes in Joburg after two drivers murdered in cold blood

Johannesburg’s Rea Vaya bus service resumed on Thursday after it was suspended following the fatal shooting of two drivers in separate incidents in Soweto on Monday.

Rea Vaya business rescue practitioner Mohamed Mahier Tayob said security had been heightened to protect staff and passengers. Tayob said the buses would be escorted by members of the SAPS, including the K-9 Unit, and the Johannesburg Metro Police Department “in marked and unmarked cars”.

“It’s good to see the buses running but I’m not sure I’ll be comfortable in the bus. I thought the buses would be escorted, also to ease the drivers’ [safety worries],” said Billy Mashele, a commuter from Soweto.

Another commuter, Lungile Masondo, also from Soweto, said, “I’m not taking any chances. For now, I will use taxis even though they are annoying.”

The two Rea Vaya bus drivers were killed in Mapetla and Protea Glen in Soweto on the Phase 1B route within moments of one another.

Johannesburg Transport MMC Kenny Kunene said the first shooting occurred at 8.30pm near Mapetla Secondary School. The driver was shot while driving and when the bus stalled, the killers approached the bus and fired more shots at him

The second attack, in which 17 bullets were fired, occurred near Curro College in Protea.

“It’s very clear that this was planned and well executed,” said Kunene.

He said the killings amounted to a declaration of war on the people of Soweto and the government.

R100k reward

Tayob, the business rescue practitioner for PioTrans, which operates the bus service, said there was a R100,000 reward for anyone who provided information leading to the prosecution of the killers.

Asked whether the attacks had anything to do with the taxi sector, which has had disputes with the Rea Vaya services, Tayob responded: “That would be speculation. The SAPS investigation will expose the suspects and the ultimate controlling minds behind this heinous act.”

In a statement on Thursday, the deputy Joburg chairperson of the SA Municipal Workers’ Union, Lebogang Ndawo, said: “These cold-blooded killings, which occurred mere minutes apart in Soweto, bear the hallmarks of a coordinated attack by criminals who deliberately targeted Rea Vaya buses.

“This is not just an attack on individuals; it is an assault on the very fabric of public safety and the dignity of workers who serve our communities.”

He said the City of Johannesburg’s commitment to escort the buses “offers little reassurance. This decision, made in the shadow of such a well-planned and executed attack, places the lives of both drivers and commuters at grave risk. The perpetrators remain at large, and the threat of further violence looms large.”

National Union of Metalworkers spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola was concerned that the families of the killed workers might struggle to access death benefits while PioTrans is under business rescue.

Interruption of services

In November 2024, the city temporarily halted Rea Vaya operations after the taxi industry revolted against the introduction of 45 new feeder buses meant to replace damaged and decommissioned vehicles.

That same month, members of the taxi sector marched to Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero’s office to demand payments stemming from their 2016 deal with the city. The taxi operators claimed they were owed R160-million.

Read more: Rea Vaya bus operations halted again — taxi industry outrage sparks commuter turmoil

In a 2016 public transport joint venture, the City of Johannesburg pledged to compensate taxi operators form loss of income stemming from the introduction of the Rea Vaya buses. This matter has not been fully resolved.

During the November 2024 bus disruptions, taxi owners claimed that PioTrans was avoiding making outstanding payments by bringing in buses and drivers from KwaZulu-Natal and ignoring agreements the parties had made more than a decade ago.

On 29 January 2025, Kunene, along with Transport Committee members and other stakeholders, unveiled 68 Rea Vaya prototype buses at the TMS Plant in West Turffontein.

The city bought the buses for R18-million from Bombela for the Rea Vaya Phase 1c (a) route. The buses will be modified to fit Rea Vaya stations and are expected to be in service by July. DM