Rea Vaya shutdown sparks City Hall clash as Morero challenges Kunene to prove claims

A political standoff at the heart of Joburg transport

The suspension of Rea Vaya feeder bus services in Soweto has spilled out of transport planning meetings and into a very public political dispute at City Hall. Executive Mayor Dada Morero has strongly denied claims that the decision was taken without consultation, pushing back against remarks made by MMC for Transport Kenny Kunene and calling them misleading.

For thousands of Soweto commuters who rely on feeder buses to reach Rea Vaya’s main routes, the service interruption has been more than just a policy debate. It has disrupted daily routines, added transport costs and reignited long-standing frustrations around public transport reliability in Johannesburg.

Morero: ‘This is not how the City works’

In a statement from the mayor’s office, Morero rejected the suggestion that the feeder bus suspension was imposed unilaterally. He stressed that decisions of this magnitude are governed by collective responsibility within the mayoral committee, not individual political positioning.

Morero also raised concerns about the way the matter was taken public. According to his office, internal executive processes exist precisely to resolve disagreements before they spill into the media and risk confusing residents or undermining confidence in city leadership.

Taking the matter a step further, Morero has formally written to Kunene, asking him to provide evidence to support his claims and to explain why internal channels were bypassed before issuing a public statement.

Kunene distances himself from the shutdown

Kunene, however, has firmly rejected any responsibility for the suspension. He says he felt forced to clarify his position after public perception began pointing the finger at his office.

According to Kunene, neither he nor officials in the transport department instructed or approved the halt of the feeder bus services. He insists the decision was made by the executive mayor alone and should be understood as such.

He also emphasised that Rea Vaya feeder buses are not an optional extra. In his view, they are a legally required part of the Bus Rapid Transit system, designed to ensure commuters can easily access trunk routes.

Legal, financial and national implications

Kunene has warned that suspending feeder services could expose the City of Johannesburg to legal and financial risks. He claims technical officials, supported by guidance from National Treasury and the Department of Transport, advised against stopping the service.

Taking the issue beyond municipal borders, Kunene says he has escalated the matter to the ministers of transport and finance, arguing that Rea Vaya’s national funding and policy framework mean the consequences stretch beyond Johannesburg alone.

Public reaction and what comes next

On social media, Joburg residents have reacted with a mix of frustration and fatigue, with many saying commuters are once again caught in the middle of political infighting. Others have called for transparency, urging city leaders to focus less on blame and more on restoring services.

As the war of words continues, the bigger question remains unresolved: when and how, will reliable feeder bus services return to Soweto? For now, commuters wait while City Hall debates responsibility behind closed doors and, increasingly, in public view.