Gautrain Ridership Declines as Uber Faces Collapse in South Africa’s Transport Sector

Gauteng’s public transport sector is undergoing a crisis as Gautrain ridership plummets and Uber faces mounting operational challenges. These developments are reshaping how South Africans commute and not necessarily for the better. With declining usage, safety concerns, and questions over infrastructure investment, the province is at a crossroads in redefining the future of urban mobility.

ALSO READ: Why Gautrain Is the Best Public Transport Option for Gauteng Commuters

Gautrain’s Sharp Decline in Daily Commuters

Once hailed as a world-class rapid rail system, the Gautrain has experienced a significant drop in daily ridership. Pre-COVID, the system serviced an average of 55,000 passengers per day. That figure has now dropped to just over 13,000 — a staggering 76% decline.

This drop in numbers is primarily attributed to:

• The shift to remote and hybrid work models, which reduced the number of office-bound commuters.
• Affordability issues, as Gautrain fares remain out of reach for many working-class South Africans.
• Safety concerns at stations, particularly due to issues with last-mile services like Uber and the lack of integrated transport options.

Despite this, the Gauteng Provincial Government is pushing ahead with a proposed R120 billion Gautrain expansion to underserved areas like Soweto, Mamelodi, Atteridgeville, Lanseria, and Springs. However, transport watchdogs such as the Automobile Association (AA) have warned that this investment could become a financial black hole. With Gautrain usage at a fraction of its capacity, critics argue that expanding the system without first addressing the root causes of its decline is unsustainable and unfair to taxpayers.

Uber’s Diminishing Presence and Safety Crisis

Once a convenient and cost-effective ride-hailing option, Uber is now facing a potential collapse in South Africa due to ongoing safety and service reliability concerns.

Key challenges include:

• Intimidation and attacks by metered taxi drivers, especially at Gautrain stations, have made pickup points dangerous for both drivers and riders.
• Driver withdrawals from hotspot areas have led to increased cancellations, long wait times, and service unavailability in critical commuter zones.
• Surging costs and inconsistent service, which have led commuters to abandon Uber in favour of more predictable transport methods — despite their own flaws.

Uber’s decline highlights the lack of regulation and integration in the broader South African transport system. The absence of safe, designated ride-hailing zones at transport hubs like Gautrain stations is a glaring issue that has gone unresolved for years.

A Public Transport System in Crisis

The struggles faced by both Gautrain and Uber are not isolated incidents — they are symptoms of deeper issues in Gauteng’s public transport framework. These include:

• Poor integration between systems, such as trains, buses, and e-hailing services.
• Lack of affordability and equitable access to transportation for the majority of South Africans.
• Urban planning oversights, where key residential and economic zones remain poorly connected.

Without a strategic shift towards an inclusive and integrated transport model, Gauteng risks alienating its largest commuter base and deepening social inequalities.

The Way Forward

What Gauteng needs now is not just more trains or ride-hailing apps, but a complete overhaul of its transportation ecosystem. Solutions should include:

• Affordable fare structures that match the income levels of the province’s workforce.
• Better safety and infrastructure for last-mile connections.
• Improved regulation and protection for ride-hailing services.
• Integration of informal and formal transport systems into one cohesive network.

Key takeaway

The decline of Gautrain and the unraveling of Uber in South Africa are wake-up calls for urgent reform. Rather than investing billions into underutilized infrastructure, authorities must focus on building a transport system that is affordable, safe, and accessible to all South Africans.