Johannesburg – A dispute over the suspension of Rea Vaya feeder bus services in Soweto has sharply escalated, exposing deep divisions between Executive Mayor Dada Morero and MMC for Roads and Transport Kenny Kunene.
The public dispute centres on who has the authority to suspend these vital commuter services and the process followed in making that decision.
According to a memorandum dated 23 January seen by TimesLIVE, Kunene accused Morero of overstepping his authority when he ordered the suspension of the feeder buses, arguing that the move was neither legally justified nor properly endorsed by the mayoral committee.
Kunene wrote that “this matter was never presented to the mayoral committee. Consequently, collective responsibility does not apply,” suggesting Morero had acted unilaterally. He also claimed that city transport officials had repeatedly warned the mayor that “the executive mayor was effectively punching above his pay grade” in attempting to suspend the services.
The suspension, which has affected about 45 feeder buses linking Soweto commuters to the main Rea Vaya trunk routes, has been in place since February 2025, leaving residents struggling to access reliable public transport. Kunene further warned that the city continues to pay operators for services that are not running, creating “unnecessary financial and legal risk.”
He also argued that halting the buses had created “a vacuum that is now being filled by minibus taxis,” forcing commuters into alternative, often more expensive, transport.
Kunene’s public critique appears rooted in internal frustrations.
IOL reported that leaked documents suggest Morero ignored both technical and legal advice from officials who warned against the suspension, noting that “BRT operational matters fall outside the authority of the Executive Mayor.”
One briefing report from March 2025, included in the leaked materials, confirms that city officials had told Morero the buses were in fact fully licensed, undermining the rationale for the suspension.
In response to Kunene’s allegations, Morero vehemently denied acting alone. In a letter dated 22 January, he described Kunene’s claims as “misleading” and demanded “documentary or other verifiable evidence” to substantiate the assertion that the decision was not taken collectively with his committee.
Morero cautioned that blaming fellow executives publicly “undermined collective accountability” and risked damaging public confidence in city leadership.
The dispute comes amid wider operational and governance challenges facing Rea Vaya. Prior reporting has highlighted major issues within the system, including the loss of a R313 million transport grant linked to ongoing service inefficiencies — a situation the Automobile Association said was “a blow to road users, low-income commuters, and public confidence”.
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Compiled by Lisabeal Nqamqhele
