Johannesburg Metrobus has recorded more than 1 609 fatality free operational days and launched a campaign to reach 1 860 days during Transport Month in October 2026. The bus operator has also expanded its focus to women commuters, pledging stronger action against gender based violence and femicide on its network. Metrobus Managing Director Bongani Radebe said reported incidents on buses will be treated as emergencies.
The announcement places road safety and protection from violence at the centre of the operator’s Transport Month campaign.
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Metrobus Sets Its Next Operational Target
Metrobus has started a countdown towards reaching 1 860 fatality free operational days after passing the 1 609 day mark.
Radebe said the operator is also broadening its approach to safe mobility beyond preventing road fatalities.
The campaign includes a commitment to improving the safety of women using public transport in Johannesburg, particularly in response to gender based violence and femicide.
Women Commuter Safety in Focus
Radebe said women should be able to move around Johannesburg without experiencing harassment, intimidation or violence.
“A woman’s right to move safely in this city is not negotiable,” Radebe said.
“It is not a privilege granted by us; it is her undeniable right.”
According to Radebe, women and girls using taxis, buses and trains can face safety concerns at different stages of their journeys, including while waiting for transport, while travelling and when walking the final distance home after dark.
He said this means transport safety cannot be limited to what happens while a vehicle is on the road.
“If she is not safe, then transport has failed, and Johannesburg is not moving,” Radebe said.
GBVF Described as a Transport Safety Issue
Radebe said gender based violence and femicide should also be viewed as a transport safety issue.
“And it is our failure if we stay silent,” he said.
The Metrobus commitment extends across the organisation, with Radebe saying employees including drivers, technicians, schedulers, controllers, cashiers, cleaners and managers form part of the pledge.
Metrobus said it intends to make every bus and bus stop a safe space for commuters.
“No catcalling, no touching, no intimidation will be tolerated on our network,” Radebe said.
Women who experience these incidents have been urged to report them.
What Happens When a GBVF Incident is Reported?
Metrobus said its control room will treat a gender based violence and femicide alert received from a bus as an emergency.
“We pledge to believe you and to act,” Radebe said.
According to Radebe, if an alert is received, the bus will be stopped in a safe area and assistance will be requested from either the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department or the South African Police Service.
Metrobus also pledged to remain with the affected commuter during the response.
“We will stop the bus in a safe area, call the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department or the South African Police Service, and stay with you,” Radebe said.
The pledge outlines how Metrobus says its staff will respond when an incident is reported on its network.
Organisation Addresses Safety Within Its Workforce
The operator said its commitment to protecting women also applies internally.
“We pledge that our own house is in order,” Radebe said.
“No woman at Metrobus is unsafe.”
Metrobus also said its buses will carry the GBVF Command Centre number during October.
According to Radebe, commuters will be able to use the number to request a call from a social worker.
The source material does not provide the Command Centre number.
Zero Tolerance Added to Safety Message
Radebe said the operator wants to extend the trust commuters have placed in its road operations to protection from violence.
Addressing women commuters, he said: “Now we pledge to keep you safe from violence on that road.”
Radebe added that women have the right to travel without fear, without being followed and to have their refusal respected.
The commitment means Metrobus is presenting safe mobility during Transport Month as involving both road operations and protection from harassment and violence.
What This Means for Gauteng Residents
For Johannesburg residents who depend on Metrobus, the announcement sets out how the operator says it will respond when gender based violence and femicide incidents are reported on its buses.
The commitment is particularly relevant to women who use public transport for daily journeys to work, school, healthcare facilities and home.
Metrobus says an alert from a bus will be treated as an emergency. Its stated response includes stopping the bus in a safe place, contacting JMPD or SAPS and remaining with the affected commuter.
Residents should also expect to see the GBVF Command Centre number displayed on Metrobus buses during October, according to Radebe.
The campaign broadens Metrobus’s Transport Month message by placing passenger protection alongside its existing road safety focus.
Transport Month Campaign Looks Beyond Road Fatalities
Metrobus is using its October campaign to connect its operational road safety record with its approach to protecting commuters from violence and harassment.
Radebe said safe mobility should ultimately be measured by more than road fatality figures.
“Safety Mobility is not just about zero road fatalities,” he said.
“It is about zero tolerance for GBV; this is our promise for October Transport Month and beyond.”
The campaign will continue through Transport Month as Metrobus works towards its next operational milestone and implements its commitments around women’s safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many fatality free days has Metrobus recorded?
Metrobus announced that it has recorded more than 1 609 fatality free operational days.
What is the next target?
The Johannesburg bus operator is working towards 1 860 fatality free operational days.
What is Metrobus doing about GBVF on its buses?
Metrobus has pledged zero tolerance for catcalling, unwanted touching and intimidation on its network. It says GBVF alerts from buses will be treated as emergencies.
What happens if a GBVF incident is reported on a Metrobus bus?
According to Metrobus, the bus will be stopped in a safe area while JMPD or SAPS is contacted. The operator has also pledged to remain with the affected commuter.
Will Metrobus display the GBVF Command Centre number?
Yes. Radebe said Metrobus buses will carry the GBVF Command Centre number during October so commuters can request contact from a social worker.
Safety Drive Continues Beyond Transport Month
Metrobus says its commitment to commuter safety will extend beyond Transport Month, with the operator placing both road safety and protection from gender based violence at the centre of its approach.
Radebe said the focus on safe mobility must go beyond preventing road fatalities and include how commuters experience public transport.
“Safety Mobility is not just about zero road fatalities,” he said.
“It is about zero tolerance for GBV; this is our promise for October Transport Month and beyond.”
For Johannesburg commuters, the commitment will now be measured not only by Metrobus’s road safety record, but also by how the operator responds when harassment, intimidation or violence is reported on its network.
