Getting Around Alexandra
Alexandra is a township in Johannesburg, South Africa, and it sits within the wider Johannesburg public transport network rather than having a self-contained system of its own. For a visitor, the practical picture is simple: there is no metro or tram network to speak of, buses are the backbone of public transport, minibus taxis fill the gaps, and the main way to reach the city from the airport is by road. The sections below explain what exists and how to use it.
How Visitors Move Around
Alexandra's residents have historically relied heavily on buses to commute to jobs in central Johannesburg, and buses remain a central part of how people move in and out of the township. The township is linked to the rest of Johannesburg by bus routes, and the wider city's bus rapid transit system was explicitly designed with routes connecting Alexandra to central Johannesburg.
Because Alexandra is a township rather than a city with its own rail or tram network, getting around generally means choosing between buses, minibus taxis, and ride-hailing, with walking for shorter local trips. Plan your journeys around these road-based options rather than expecting a train or tram to take you where you want to go.
Rail, Metro and Tram
There is no metro or tram network serving Alexandra. If you are looking for a train or tram to get around Alexandra, you will not find one; treat buses and taxis as your options instead.
Buses and Other Public Transport
The main structured public transport option linking Alexandra to the rest of Johannesburg is the city's bus rapid transit system, known as Rea Vaya ("we are going"). It was planned and built with the specific aim of linking historically disadvantaged townships, including Alexandra and Soweto, to central Johannesburg.
- What it is: A bus rapid transit network using exclusive busways, stations and dedicated lanes rather than ordinary street stops.
- Where it goes: Main routes connect Soweto and Alexandra to central Johannesburg. Other major routes link Soweto with Sandton via Parktown and Rosebank, and Sandton to the CBD and the city's major stadiums at Ellis Park and Nasrec.
- Why it matters for visitors: The routes were deliberately designed to connect major concentrations of visitors and spectators with the two big soccer stadia, so the network is useful if you are moving between the city centre, the townships and event venues.
- Tickets and fares: The fares system for Rea Vaya was developed as part of the system's operating concept, and the network was set up with a financing model covering costs, income coverage and state subsidies. In practice this means you pay a set fare for the system rather than negotiating a price; buy your ticket or load a card at stations rather than paying the driver in cash.
- Who operates it: Former minibus taxi drivers were offered opportunities to work for the city as bus drivers as the system was introduced, so the buses are city-run rather than independently operated.
Beyond Rea Vaya, ordinary buses have long served Alexandra. Historically, residents depended on buses to reach jobs in central Johannesburg, and bus services in the area have been the subject of fare disputes and boycotts, including the 1943 boycott over a fare increase and later boycotts in the 1940s and 1950s. That history is a reminder that bus fares and service quality have always been sensitive issues here, so check current routes and fares locally before you rely on a particular service.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Minibus taxis are a major part of how people get around Alexandra and the wider Johannesburg area. The introduction of the Rea Vaya bus system was expected to reduce the number of taxis on the roads, and to protect livelihoods, taxi drivers were offered the chance to work for the city as bus drivers. In practice, taxis remain a common and flexible way to travel, particularly for trips that buses do not cover directly.
- Minibus taxis: These run along established routes and are a standard part of everyday travel in the township and to and from Johannesburg. Fares are typically paid in cash to the driver or conductor, and routes are usually identified by hand signals or destination boards rather than published timetables.
- Ride-hailing: App-based ride-hailing is a convenient option for visitors who want a door-to-door trip without negotiating routes or fares, and it avoids the need to know local taxi routes. It is generally the easiest option if you are unsure how the taxi network works.
- Practical tip: Because taxi routes and ranks are not always clearly signposted for visitors, ask your accommodation to help you identify the right rank or to book a ride-hailing car for you.
Walkability
Walking is a genuine part of how people get around Alexandra. During the 1943 bus boycott, roughly 15,000 commuters walked between Alexandra and central Johannesburg each day rather than pay the increased fare, and the daily walk functioned as a de facto march. That history shows that walking long distances into the city has long been a real option for residents, though it reflects necessity rather than leisure.
For a visitor, walking is best suited to short local trips within Alexandra rather than long cross-city journeys. If you do walk, stick to routes you know or that have been recommended to you locally, and consider using a bus, taxi or ride-hailing car for longer trips into central Johannesburg.
Getting from the Airport into the City
The practical way to reach the city from the airport is therefore by road.
- Ride-hailing: The simplest option for a visitor. Book through an app at the airport and travel directly to your accommodation, with the fare agreed in the app rather than negotiated.
- Taxi: Metered taxis and airport transfer services are available at the airport and can take you into the city or on to Alexandra.
- Shuttle or pre-booked transfer: Many visitors arrange a transfer through their hotel or accommodation before arrival, which avoids any uncertainty at the airport.
- Public transport connections: If you want to use the bus network, you will generally need to get into the city first and then connect to a Rea Vaya route or a local bus or taxi, since the rapid transit system is built around city and township routes rather than airport pickups.
Whichever option you choose, allow extra time for traffic, since road travel is the only way in and out for most visitors.
Putting It Together
For a visitor to Alexandra, the workable plan is: use ride-hailing or a pre-booked transfer from the airport into the city; use Rea Vaya buses for main routes connecting Alexandra, Soweto, the CBD and Sandton; use minibus taxis or ride-hailing for local and flexible trips; and walk for short local journeys. There is no metro or tram to plan around, so build your itinerary around road-based transport and buy your bus ticket or card at stations rather than paying cash on board.