​​Public Transport: Metrobus

​Metrobus vehicles are available for hire for special occasions. For more information contact Metrobus via email at busqueries@joburg.org.za, or the bus hire o​ffice, Fordsburg Depot, on 011 832 3135/6/7, or fax 011 832 3138. 

For the purposes of Metrobus’s operations, the city has been divided into concentric zones, radiating out from the CBD. There are currently six zones, with most of the routes starting from the inner city points in Zone 1.
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The number of zones a commuter crosses determines the fare. As demand for public transport grows, Metrobus increases the number of routes to different areas. Some major routes do not go through the CBD at all. 

One such route goes between Soweto, Sandton and Sunninghill:​

​Zone 1: From the city centre to Parktown and to Joe Slovo Drive and Louis Botha Avenue;

Zone 2: From the corner of Jan Smuts Avenue and Empire Road in Braamfontein to the corner of Jan Smuts Avenue and Tyrwhitt Road in Rosebank;

Zone 3: From the corner of Jan Smuts Avenue and Tyrwhitt Road in Rosebank to Craighall Park;

Zone 4: From Craighall Park along Beyers Naude Drive and to the Randburg Mall;

Zone 5: From the Randburg Mall to Beverley Gardens;

Zone 6: From Beverley Gardens to Northgate.

​In addition Metrobus also runs three cross-town routes:

Route 520 between Naturena and Randburg Centre;

Route 420 operates between Westgate Shopping Centre;

Randburg Centre via Strijdom Park;

Route 421, which has four variations:R421 A: Bellevue to Auckland Park;

R421 F: Bellevue to Fairlands;

R421 N: Yeoville to Northgate;

R421 S: Yeoville to Strijdom Park.
These routes and bus stops are clearly marked with a white sign, indicated on the top of the route number and on the bottom of the zone number.

Quick facts
All Metrobus vehicles have comprehensive insurance and are covered by the Roads Accident Fund.​​

Metrobus fares from July 2017 (Click here)
Eldorado P​ark fares. (Click here​)

Prepaid tags
It is cheaper to use prepaid tags rather than pay cash.​
Prepaid tags rules (See below)

Extra Information  
Metrobus has divided its coverage of the city into concentric zones, radiating out from the CBD.
Most of the routes start from the inner city bus terminals in Zone 1, with longer trips traversing a number of different zones. For example, a trip from the CBD to Midrand could cross different zones up to eight times.

Bus fares are controlled by the City council and the fee structure is set out in a council by-law. Metrobus aims to keep the service affordable, with fare increases within the inflation rate.
The number of zones a commuter crosses determines the fare, with ticket prices varying from zone to zone.​

Prepaid Tag Rules

A once-off fee for the tag is payable and the top-up amount is then recorded on the tag and deducted as bus trips are made. Different tags are available depending on the commuter’s particular needs, with special rates for pensioners, learners and disabled people:

Adult commuters who use the buses daily are issued green tags. Green tags are available for: 52 trips monthly, 44 trips monthly, 14 trips weekly, 12 trips weekly and 10 trips weekly;

School children use red tags that can be preloaded with a specific number of bus trips. The children then do not have to carry money for fares. Red tags are available in: a 130-trip term ticket, 44 trips monthly, 10 trips weekly and the stored value;

People with disabilities use a yellow prepaid tag, which is valid for a period of three months;

Pensioners use black tags, which are valid for a year. They receive a 50 percent discount on their bus trips;

Infrequent users can use a stored value tag that works like a debit card. The commuter tells the driver the number of zones to be travelled and the amount is then deducted from the tag. Passengers get a 10 percent discount on their bus fares but these are not transferable. The maximum amount on the stored value tag is R500. The stored value has no expiry date;

Commuters forfeit all unused trips after the expiry date and will forfeit unused trips when changing between the denominations;

Commuters who use the tag system and who need to transfer from one bus route to another must do so within two hours of the tag being scanned. This regulation excludes those commuters using stored value tags or pensioner and physically challenged tags.;Commuters must retain their tickets of the initial journey;

To activate the tag, the number of zones to be travelled need to be loaded on to the tag. Passengers can only travel in the zones that have been loaded on the tag. The tag is not restricted to specific calendar weeks or months – it can be used at any time. If a tag is lost, stolen or misplaced, its loss can be reported and it will be barred from further use;

All of the tags are equipped with a 10-minute “pass-back” feature, which means that once the tag is swiped, it cannot be used again for 10 minutes. This feature is intended to prevent fraud. All of the tags also have a transfer option, which allows passengers to transfer to a second bus within two hours to complete a journey.​​​​​

​Quick facts

Metrobus has a fleet of 532, including two luxury buses and six special needs buses fitted with hydraulic wheelchair lifts.

Metrobus:

Supplies a daily public bus service;

Provides transport for people with disabilities;

Provides pensioner transport;

Provides a dedicated transport service for school learners;

Supplies commercial contracts to transport employees;

Operates a Gauteng department of transport contract in Eldorado Park with 19 buses;

Provides buses for private hire;

Provides transport to and from major events; and

Offers advertising space on buses and tickets;​​

Its services are constantly expanding and Metrobus is, among other plans, determined to extend its bus routes, provide feeder services for the Gautrain, and integrate services for people with disabilities into the scheduled service.

​Communications: 011 403 4300

​​​​Customer care email: customer@mbus.co.za​

Customer Care Line: (011) 403-0019

Customer Care: Centre at Ghandi Square.,

For more information, the commuters can visit our website on: www.mbus.co.za

Getting vast numbers of people from one part of the city to another safely, quickly and affordably is the job of Metrobus, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Bus Service.

Set up as a company in 2000, it is wholly owned by the City of Johannesburg. It is also the second largest municipal bus operator in South Africa, with 532 buses covering 80 scheduled routes and 130 school routes.

Metrobus transports about 90 000 passengers daily fulfilling its primary task – transporting commuters using a scheduled bus servic​e.

Vision
The transport company’s vision is to be a world-class African bus service across the greater Johannesburg metro.

Mission

Its mission is to provide customer-friendly public bus transport within greater Johannesburg. To do this, it has distilled its aims, as follows:​

Innovation – Metrobus will continuously look for ways to grow its business and introduce cost-reducing and efficiency-enhancing methods and technologies;

Safety – it will ensure that its passengers are always safe and its bus operators will be the best trained in the country.

Reliability – it will provide a reliable, punctual service;

Efficiency – it will provide a cost-efficient service to ensure fares are kept as low as possible;

Sustainability – it will be financially viable and will produce above-industry-average profitability through efficient resource allocation and management;

Environmental consciousness – it will ensure that its buses do not pollute the environment;

Customer-focused – it will ensure that buses are clean and comfortable and that its operators are trained in customer services;

Continuous learning – it will encourage staff and their families to learn, with special focus on their health, safety and social wellbeing;

Key objectives

Metrobus aims to turn public transport in Joburg into a professionally run operation.

To reach this objective, the company has studied commuters’ needs and has invested heavily in technology and new vehicles to improve its service.​