South Africa (ZA)

South Africa combines English-friendly professional life, major finance and tech hubs, relatively affordable private healthcare and housing, world-class nature, wine regions and a complex but vibrant post-apartheid society.

Capital: Pretoria

Region: Africa

Language: Zulu

Currency: ZAR (R)

Cost of living: Very affordable (index 32)

Emergency: 112

Getting Around

Transport options for living in South Africa.

Public Transport Overview

Public transport quality varies sharply by city. Gautrain is reliable between Johannesburg, Pretoria and OR Tambo. Cape Town has MyCiTi buses and commuter rail is improving but uneven. Minibus taxis carry millions daily but can be difficult for newcomers because routes are informal.

Main operators:

GautrainMyCiTi Cape TownGolden Arrow Bus ServicesRea Vaya Johannesburg BRTA Re Yeng Tshwane BRTGO GEORGEPRASA / MetrorailShosholoza MeylIntercapeGreyhound / CitilinerBazbus

🎫 Transit Passes

Gautrain Gold Card / contactless Fare varies by distance; airport trips are premium priced

Gautrain rail and feeder buses in Gauteng

💡 Best for Sandton-Rosebank-Pretoria-OR Tambo corridors.

MyCiTi myconnect Distance-based fares; monthly travel depends on route

Cape Town BRT network including airport and Atlantic Seaboard routes

💡 Useful if living near MyCiTi routes; not citywide.

Rea Vaya smartcard Distance-based fares

Johannesburg BRT corridors

💡 Coverage is limited but useful on served routes.

Golden Arrow Gold Card Route and product dependent

Cape Town metropolitan bus network

💡 Large commuter network; check route safety and timetable.

Minibus taxi cash fare Often R10-R35 per local trip

Extensive informal routes nationwide

💡 Ask locals how hand signals, ranks and route names work before relying on it.

Taxi & Rideshare

Metered taxis exist but app-based rides are more common for expats. At airports, use official ranks or ride-hailing pickup zones; ignore touts in arrivals halls.

Rideshare (Long-distance)

Uber and Bolt are widely used in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban and major towns. InDriver operates in some markets. Check driver, plate and route; share live trips at night.

Cycling

Cape Town has the strongest leisure cycling culture and some cycling lanes; Johannesburg and Pretoria are more car-oriented. Mountain biking and road cycling are popular, but commuting by bike needs careful route planning and strong security habits.

Intercity Trains

Long-distance rail is limited and not the default for expats. Luxury tourist trains exist, but most intercity travel is by car, domestic flight or coach. For Johannesburg-Pretoria-airport commuting, Gautrain is the standout rail option.

Driving

Most expats rely on a car outside dense Cape Town or Gautrain-served Gauteng corridors. Drive on the left. Speed limits: 60 km/h in urban areas, 100 km/h on rural roads, 120 km/h on freeways. Defensive driving, secure parking, insurance, tracking devices and avoiding night driving on unfamiliar roads are practical norms.

Airports

Major airports: OR Tambo (Johannesburg, main international hub with Gautrain), Cape Town International, King Shaka (Durban), Lanseria, Chief Dawid Stuurman (Gqeberha), Bram Fischer (Bloemfontein) and Kruger Mpumalanga. Domestic flying is often the fastest intercity option.