Some Johannesburg Metrobus commuters have come out strongly against the bus company's new payment system. However, Metrobus says it is going ahead with the system's implementation, starting on Tuesday, 1 July.

Commuters interviewed by Daily Maverick voiced their unhappiness with Johannesburg Metrobus' new tap-in, tap-out payment system, which charges per kilometre travelled.

Maria Muhluba (51) from Malvern said she would not be able to afford the new system: "We are charged per kilometre, which is very expensive compared to the old system," she said.

Another commuter, who identified themself as Nomthandazo from Regents Park, said: "I work in Fourways [and travel] from Regents Park to Fourways, and when you look at what we will be paying, it costs even more than taxis. They are charging us R32.90 from here in Gandhi Square to Fourways, and the taxis charge us R22. It's so unfair."

Catherine Mncube said, "From here to Sandringham, where I am working, a taxi is R18, but the bus is R18.70. From here to Malvern, Metrobus will charge R18.70 and taxis cost R16, so it is unaffordable."

Another complaint was that Metrobus' newer vehicles were not designed to accommodate disabled people. "The buses which they are introducing are...