The days of juggling cash, paper tickets, and long queues for public transport in South Africa could be numbered.
The Department of Transport (DoT) has reached out to the private sector to help develop an integrated smart ticketing system.
This would look like a single tap-and-go card or mobile pass that would work across trains, buses, as well as taxis nationwide.
A move toward seamless travel with smart tickets
The initiative is part of a series of Requests for Information (RFIs) the department has issued to attract ideas and investment for modernising state-owned infrastructure.
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy says the vision is to simplify travel, cut down on queues, and eliminate the need for paper tickets.
“The private sector has an important role to play to make this a reality,” Creecy said, as per Mybroadband, adding that the system would also improve revenue management and transparency within the public transport network.
Inspired by global examples
If implemented, the system would bring South Africa in line with major global transport networks.
Countries like France, Switzerland, and Germany already use similar technology, the Navigo Pass, Swiss Travel Pass, and Deutschland-Ticket, respectively, allowing commuters to travel seamlessly across multiple modes of transport using a single account.
The Swiss Travel Pass, for instance, can be used not just for trains and buses, but also for boats, trams, and even mountain railways.
These systems let passengers tap a card or smartphone equipped with RFID or NFC technology at entry and exit points, deducting the correct fare automatically.
If successful, South Africans could soon experience a simpler, faster, and fully digital way to move around cities and regions, all with a single tap.
