The City of Johannesburg on Sunday officially launched its Rea Vaya bus rapid transit (BRT) system, despite a last minute attempt by the South African National Taxi Council and the United Taxi Association Forum on Friday to halt the process.

Thousands of commuters showed up at Rea Vaya stations dotting the 25 km route to make use of the opportunity to test the system free of charge on its first day of operations.

Police members were scattered all along the route and even on the packed buses, casting a watchful eye over proceedings.

As from Monday, commuters will be charged R3, R5 and R8 for bus trips, depending on the length of their journey.

City of Johannesburg member for the mayoral committee for transportation Rehana Moosajee said that the High Court judgement in favour of the city vindicated the council's view that there was no valid reason to stop the launch of the BRT service.

"It was what we expected due to the process we have undertaken throughout the last two years."

Santaco and UTAF had motivated their court action by saying that there had not been sufficient consultation in implementing the BRT system. Santaco had also previously stated that it supported the system, but that it did not understand it.

The Minister of Transport Sibusiso Ndebele had no kind words for Santaco and UTAF on Sunday, noting that in a meeting with Santaco last Monday, in an attempt to avert a taxi strike over the BRT launch, he "was the only one who had not been to Bogotá or Brazil and all these places the BRT operates. They have all been to see how it operates. There isn't a way they can still say 'I support the BRT, but I don't understand it'."

Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane added that the taxi industry was dominated "by lawlessness, and anarchy", and that the time has come to "instil dignity, respect and maturity" in the public transport sector.

However, not all taxi operators are against the implementation of the BRT system.

The Greater Johannesburg Regional Taxi Council and the Top Six taxi body form part of a joint steering committee, which is currently negotiating with the city to form a BRT operating company.

Phase 1A of the system displaced 575 taxis, and these operators and drivers had been invited to operate the BRT system.

Sunday's launch put 200 former taxi drivers to work.

Joint steering committee member Sipho Mntambo had no sympathy for Santaco, and its general secretary Philip Taaibosch either.

"We can't have a government ruled by us - by the taxi people - yet we are not in parliament.

"Some of our colleagues are not leading their people, but their pockets."

Mntambo said the heart of the taxi-BRT problem lies in the fact tha

Ndebele also noted that South Africa was striving to create a public transport system that could provide peace of mind to commuters during peak and off-peak periods.

"Peace of mind is when a part ends in Soweto, and a teenager from Sandton - things have changed - is sure of a safe trip home."

The BRT system's main routes see specialised buses run in dedicated lanes, stopping at specially designed stations, located roughly every 750 m along the way.

The starter service which kicked off on Sunday runs from Lakeview station, in Soweto, to Ellis Park station, also offering an inner-city complementary service. It operates in two shifts, with limited off-peak services.

The full phase 1A, to be implemented by January 2010, will use expanded trunk and feeder routes, offering a three-shift operation with a three- to five-minute frequency during peak times, and 20 minutes during off-peak periods.