Let’s get straight to the point: you need a car hire in Johannesburg. There are no ifs, ors, and buts. I’m willing to negotiate many creature comforts in Johannesburg, but a rented vehicle is NOT one of them. Here’s why.

1. You Cannot Rely on Public Transport - There are too few of them, and they travel too far in between. Johannesburg has 5 districts, namely Central Johannesburg, Soweto, Sandton, Randburg, and Roodepoort. Public transport covers only a few areas of these districts. What about the metro? You can forget about it, too. It’s a haven for pickpockets.

2. You Should Avoid Minibus Taxis - Ever heard about the black taxis of South Africa? They are nothing at all like the black cabs of London. The black cabs of London are reliable; the black taxis of South Africa are a hazard to life and limb. Many of these taxis are not roadworthy. I made the mistake of riding a taxi one time. My jaw dropped when I saw what the driver was using to steer the wheel-a lead pipe, of all things! I made it a point to get a car hire in Johannesburg after that!

3. You Wouldn’t Want to Deal With Conductors - I say this from experience. Most conductors are rotten liars who say yes to anything you ask just to collect your fare. If you ask, “Is this minibus taxi going to the Panorama Flea Market?”, expect your conductor to say yes and then get your fare. In reality, the minibus taxi won’t be going there at all. What will happen is this: they will drop you off at a crossroad and tell you, “Change ride here.”

4. You Can’t Rely on the Metrobus - The Metrobus is a relatively safe way to travel, but there is one problem: the Metrobus is very unreliable. It’s often late, and its system is quite confusing for short-term visitors to figure out. Moreover, it mainly services only the Johannesburg, Sandton, and Rosebank central business districts. If you have no other choice but to take the Metrobus, do so only if you’re traveling with a local.