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Getting around Dobsonville mostly means minibus taxis, Putco commuter buses and Rea Vaya buses, with Elias Motsoaledi Road as the main road through the area. Putco runs its Soweto depot in Dobsonville, and Pio-Trans (PioTrans), a company that operates Rea Vaya buses for the City of Johannesburg, also uses a depot in Dobsonville as a main base.
This guide covers the options, official contacts and where to check routes, times and fares. We found no Metrorail station in Dobsonville itself, so train trips start with a taxi or bus ride.
Putco call centre: 012 003 1791 or 012 003 1893 (checked 13 September 2026)
Rea Vaya customer line: 086 056 2874, [email protected]
Main road: Elias Motsoaledi Road (M77), Soweto to Roodepoort
Rea Vaya fares from 1 July 2026: R11.50 for trips up to 5 km (peak)
Start here: PUTCO Dobsonville, Dobsonville Taxi Rank or Dobsonville to Roodepoort
Contact Details
| Service | Official contact | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Putco | 012 003 1791 / 012 003 1893, [email protected]. Emergency: 0861 186 536 | Bus routes, tickets, lost property, complaints |
| Putco Soweto operations | 010 003 6225 / 010 003 3889 | Soweto service questions |
| Rea Vaya (City of Johannesburg) | 086 056 2874, [email protected] | Routes, smartcards, fares, complaints |
| Minibus taxis | No single official contact | Ask at the rank or the taxi association |
Contacts come from the Putco contact page and the Rea Vaya website. We did not find a public contact page for Pio-Trans; for Rea Vaya service questions use the Rea Vaya line.
Routes & Destinations
Browse the transport guides in this section:
- PUTCO Dobsonville: the Putco depot in Dobsonville, contacts, operating hours and fare updates.
- Dobsonville Taxi Rank: local minibus taxi options.
- Dobsonville to Roodepoort: how to travel between Dobsonville and Roodepoort.
- Dobsonville Stadium: getting to matches and events.
Minibus taxis
Minibus taxis are a widely used way to travel from Dobsonville to other parts of Soweto, Roodepoort and Johannesburg. Routes and fares are set by taxi associations, not published centrally, so ask the rank marshal or driver before you board.
Putco buses
Putco runs commuter buses across Greater Soweto from its Dobsonville depot. Use the Putco route finder or app to find a route. Details are on the PUTCO Dobsonville page.
Rea Vaya and Pio-Trans
Rea Vaya is Johannesburg’s bus rapid transit system. Reference sources list two complementary routes starting in Dobsonville: C1 to the Johannesburg CBD and Ellis Park, and C2 to Maponya Mall. The current Rea Vaya website lists routes by code but not their end points, so confirm the route on the Rea Vaya bus times page before relying on it.
Pio-Trans was the first Rea Vaya bus operating company. The Citizen reported in October 2024 that its Dobsonville depot is a primary hub and that its new buses serve Soweto feeder routes F1 to F5, including Naledi, Protea Glen, Jabavu, Mofolo and Eldorado Park. Passengers do not deal with Pio-Trans directly. Tickets, fares and routes are all handled through Rea Vaya.
Rail
Dobsonville has no train station of its own. The nearest Metrorail corridors are the Johannesburg to Naledi line through Soweto and the Johannesburg to Randfontein line through Roodepoort. Metrorail services in Gauteng have been disrupted in recent years, so check with PRASA Metrorail which stations and trains are running before planning a rail trip.
Roads
Elias Motsoaledi Road (M77) runs through Jabavu and Dobsonville, linking Moroka in Soweto with the R41 (Main Reef Road) in Roodepoort. It crosses the M70 and M72 in Dobsonville.
Timetables / Operating Times
- Putco: its website gives operating hours of 02h30 to 22h00. Route timetables are available through the Putco app and SmartTap pages.
- Rea Vaya: the operating routes page lists weekday and weekend service from 05h00 to 21h00, with Saturday buses every 30 minutes from 05h00 to 19h00 and Sunday buses every 30 minutes from 06h00 to 19h00. Route C1 runs every 5 minutes at peak and C2 every 10 minutes. The page’s details are not fully consistent, so check bus times for your route.
- Taxis: no published timetable. Services are busiest in the morning and late-afternoon peaks.
Fares (If Verified)
Rea Vaya charges by distance using a smartcard. Fares from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, from the Rea Vaya fares page:
| Journey length | Peak fare | Off-peak fare |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 5 km | R11.50 | R10.00 |
| 5 to 10 km | R14.50 | R13.00 |
| 10 to 15 km | R17.00 | R15.00 |
| 15 to 25 km | R19.50 | R17.50 |
| More than 45 km | R28.50 | R26.50 |
The Rea Vaya card costs R30, and you need at least R30 loaded to travel. Putco fares depend on route and ticket type. Putco raised Soweto fares by an average of 5% from 1 January 2026, and Sowetan reported a further average increase of 10% from 1 June 2026. See PUTCO Dobsonville for details. Taxi fares are set by associations and change without notice.
Stops & Pickup Points
Rea Vaya complementary buses and Putco buses stop along their published routes. For taxis, start at the Dobsonville Taxi Rank or ask a local driver where the route you need loads. Check stop locations in the Putco app or on Rea Vaya’s route map before you travel.
Service Alerts & Changes
- Putco: the Putco app, the official Putco Facebook page and the call centre.
- Rea Vaya: the Rea Vaya website and customer line. Rea Vaya services have been affected by strikes and depot disputes in the past.
- Taxis: local radio and community groups carry news of taxi strikes or route disruptions.
- Weather: summer storms can slow roads. Check SAWS warnings before you travel.
Alternative Transport Options
If a bus or taxi is not running, e-hailing apps and metered taxis may be options, but availability and prices vary by time of day. Drivers heading north-west can use Elias Motsoaledi Road towards Roodepoort; see Dobsonville to Roodepoort for more.
Official Sources & Related Destinations
Transport details on this page were checked on 13 September 2026 against Putco and Rea Vaya. Timetables and fares change, so confirm with the operator before you travel. For match days, see Dobsonville Stadium.