Johannesburg’s public bus system ran for the first time on a week day as the government seeks to remedy a lack of planning during apartheid that trapped millions of black South Africans in townships miles from their jobs without reliable transport.

The so-called Rea Vaya bus route, which links Soweto to central Johannesburg, is a pilot project for a service that will be rolled out throughout the city and in other urban centers including Cape Town, Pretoria, and Port Elizabeth. It will also help ferry fans to stadiums such as Johannesburg’s Ellis Park for next year’s soccer World Cup. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, 2010 FIFA World Cup, Cape Town, Conel Mackay, Jackie Walters, Johannesburg, Philip Taaibosch, Port Elizabeth, Pretoria, Rea Vaya, SANTACO, South Africa, South African National Taxi Council, Soweto, University of Johannesburg