Performance of BRTS using spatial planning and land use management act (SPLUMA) Principles: A case study of city of Johannesburg

Cities worldwide have been battling to adopt and implement better ways of addressing a wide range of spatial development challenges towards sustainable economies through various policies and legal instruments. Interestingly, much attention has been placed upon transport planning as part of transforming cities and thus urban public transport has become a cornerstone given its potential of integrating and commuting large communities to desirable destinations. In developing worlds very few but albeit interesting and successful initiatives are notable leveraging socio-economic and environmental benefits. This is particularly so in South African cities with City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality leading; introducing Bus Rapid Transit Systems through corridors of freedom project (COF). Using secondary data generated from intensive literature review and primary data collected through survey & observations within COJ regions, this study investigated the extent to which BRTS has implemented SPLUMA Principles in COJ. The findings revealed that BRTS if well planned is crucial for the ambitious spatial visions of SPLUMA. With its increasing technological usage (smartcard system, surveillances and upcoming Vayamoja App) the BRTS (Rea Vaya) proved to be on the right path. It is hoped that this work may prompt further study and help in understanding its praxis and theoretical application.