Oversight reports presented to the Johannesburg City Council have exposed severe financial distress and operational failures across the city's transport entities, including unpaid suppliers, idle infrastructure and reduced fleet availability.
The Johannesburg Roads Agency pays just 30 percent of suppliers within the required 30 days, contributing to project delays and contractor suspensions. Metrobus operates with only 40 percent of its fleet available, recording a R65.9-million operating deficit and a 36 percent drop in passenger numbers.
Twelve Rea Vaya stations completed between 2017 and 2022 remain unused, including one finished in October 2017. The Auditor-General identified R101.1-million in irregular expenditure at the roads agency and R108.5-million at Metrobus, alongside repeated breaches of the Municipal Finance Management Act.
MMC for Transport Kenny Kunene stated last month that the Metrobus fleet was effectively grounded. DA councillor Sean Kreusch told the council that residents were tired of unfulfilled plans, noting that Rea Vaya continues to receive nearly R900-million annually while performance declines.
The city forfeited R313-million from its Public Transport Network Grant due to ongoing delays and weak ridership. The Transport Section 79 Committee has referred the issues to the Municipal Public Accounts Committee for further investigation.
