Pretoria - Post Report Question and Answers
Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
There is gautrain that goes Pretoria-joberg-airport which is safe, affordable and efficient. There has been violence between taxi drivers and uber at gautrain stations so I'd get dropped a few blocks away. Uber and bolt are both easy to use and cheap. Local taxis aren't recommended because they are very bad drivers and often get in accidents. I walked a lot of places during the day, but most people don't and most SAs are horrified by this. It's not something they do. - Apr 2023
Uber is widely available, but I don't find it particularly cheap. Public transportation is inconsistent and may not be totally safe. Pretoria is a driving city, and you need a car to get around. - Mar 2023
They are not safe, and you should not use them. Uber is fine. It's affordable and reliable (except when there was a strike for a few days). - Jun 2022
No. The Gautrain is fine but local and regional trains and taxi buses are not. Uber generally works well but there have been problems. - Jan 2020
People use Uber for local transportation. Gautrain goes into the airport and Sandton. There is not a convenient station in Pretoria. You'd still need Uber, motor pool, or to park the car at the station and drive home/work thereby reducing the time savings. Buses and 'taxis' should be avoided. - Dec 2019
The Gautrain is a new (2012) high-speed train between Joburg, Pretoria, and the airport, which is fast, cheap, and safe. It doesn’t have very many stops, but is great if you’re going the right place. There is also an older Metro rail system, which is cheaper but very slow (2 hours to Johannesburg, vs. 30 minutes on the Gautrain), and expats don't usually use it. Traditional taxis are rare. In many cases you have to give them 24 hours notice, and even then, they’re liable to not show up. Uber came to Pretoria / Johannesburg in 2015 and was sorely needed. - Mar 2019
No. Only Uber. - Jun 2018
I use Gautrain between Pretoria and Joburg and the airport and it's great. But I don't use it at night. Buses, trams, trains and taxis are not a safe option. Some people use Uber regularly, but Uber drivers soemtimes face attacks by meter taxi drivers! There are trains between Pretoria/Joburg and Cape Town if you're looking for adventure. We did this 24 hour journey and it was a great experience. - Jan 2018
The train is said to be safe and affordable. Buses and taxis are not to be used. In fact, taxis are dangerous and a threat to all who live in this country. Always keep your eye scanning for the crazy taxis - you will hear them coming - honk, honk, honk, all the time. - Oct 2014
Available, but they say they are not too safe. Taxis aren't readily available but there are 1 or 2 companies that you can call. Unfortunately they take 45 min to an hour to come. There is a new high-speed train called the "Gautrain" that connects Pretoria to Jo-burg and the airport. This is safe, inexpensive, and fast. - Jun 2012
Not safe. - Dec 2009
Not safe. - Aug 2009
The Gautrain is not safe and the local taxis (mini buses) are not safe either. There are very few private taxis in Pretoria and if you call, they may come in an hour or not at all. - Feb 2009
No, no safe at all. It is a car culture. - Oct 2008
Don't know if they are affordable, but expect they are cheap. However, they are not safe. RSO recommends never taking them, except for a few taxi companies that they will recommend. - Sep 2008
Most expats don't take them, but I believe the local buses and mini-buses are quite safe and affordable. The Pretoria/Joburg train is very cheap, but not safe. - Jun 2008
