Johannesburg lacks a convenient public transportation system, partly due to the fact that the city is geared towards private motorists. A large number of the city’s residents are dependent on the city’s informal minibus taxis. However, other means of transportation do exist, which include buses, trains, and airports.
- Taxis
Johannesburg has two kinds of taxis, namely metered taxis and minibus taxis. The minibus taxis are the essential means of transportation for the majority of the population. However, since the 1980s, the minibus taxi industry has been severely affected by turf wars.  Unlike many cities, metered taxis are not allowed to drive around the city looking for passengers and instead must be called and ordered to a destination. The Gauteng Provincial Government has launched a new metered taxi programme in an attempt to increase use of metered taxis in the city.
- Buses
Another means of transportation is buses. Johannesburg is served by a bus fleet operated by Metrobus, a corporate unit of the City of Johannesburg. Its fleet consists of approximately 550 single and double-decker buses supplying 84 different routes in the city. This total includes 200 modern buses (150 double-deckers and 50 single-deckers). Metrobus’ fleet carries approximately 20 million passengers per annum. In addition, there are a number of private bus operators, though most focus on the inter-city routes, or on bus charters for touring groups.
- Trains
A new means of transportation is the Gautrain. Construction of the Gautrain will only be completed by 2011, thus unfortunately not in time for the 2010 Soccer Finals. It will consist of a number of underground stations, as well as above ground stations. When completed, it will run from north to south between Johannesburg and Pretoria, and east-west between Sandton and OR Tambo International Airport. The rail system is being designed to alleviate traffic on the N1 freeway between Johannesburg and Pretoria, which records vehicle loads of up to 300,000 per day.
- Airports
Johannesburg is served by OR Tambo International Airport for both domestic and international flights. Other airports include Lanseria, Grand Central Airport, and Rand Airport. Lanseria Airport is used for commercial flights to Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Botswana, and Sun City. Grand Central is located in Midrand and caters to small, private aircraft. Rand Airport, located in Germiston, is also a small airfield used mostly for private aircraft. It is the home of South African Airways’s first Boeing 747 Classic, the Lebombo, which is now an aviation museum. Airports are a popular means of transportation in South Africa.    Â
This article forms part of The Ultimate South African Tourist Guide White Paper. It is an essential guide to any tourist who has the opportunity to explore South Africa, containing all the information you could possibly need to ensure your stay is an enjoyable one. Featuring the best restaurants, accommodation, spots to shop, attractions and much more, all listed according to the specific region in question, this guide will be the ultimate in assisting your travels.  It is available to those members of the public who are interested in purchasing a piece of land in South Africa, and subsequently becoming a shareholder of land in South Africa. Visit http://www.ageofafrica.co.za to find out more about this project.
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