http://www.meniscuszine.com/sports/world-cup-20100704/

‘Liz  Delmont, the proprietor of top-rated guest house Liz at Lancaster, says her foreign guests are often surprised that ‘Joburg is a modern functioning city’, especially after the horror stories in the media back home,. But she feels the city will not be truly tourist friendly until it solves its public transport problems’. 

I remain frustrated that with our extensive rail, road and transport infrastructure, our varied pool of existing transport providers, and our high rate of unemployment, we as Joburgers were still not able to ‘get our act together’  in time for the influx of World Cup visitors and have not been able to give reliable information about transport arrangements, nor deliver consistent and efficient transport around the city and to and from games.  

Traffic issues For those who made their way to the stadium early (like my son who was so excited he barely slept for the 2 nights beforehand), everything went very smoothly – door-to-door journeys of about an hour.  PARK AND RIDE Some guests left cars at the Wits Park and Ride and took a bus from there to the stadium. Remember that for this option you need to buy tickets beforehand Computicket www.ticketbreak.co.zo/parkride.   Also you need to choose in advance which Park and Ride you will be using – for guests at Liz at Lancaster it would be either Wits Campus or Constitutional Hill.   METRORAIL Other guests parked their cars at Park Station and took the Metrorail (free for those with match tickets). Feedback is that the train was efficient, clean, spacious, there was a great atmosphere and camaraderie, with the presence of Metro police in each carriage and drop–off close to the stadium. Definitely a way to go to both Ellis Park and Soccer City.  In both cases the return trip was longer about 2 hours which is understandable given that the 94,000 seater stadium is emptying all at once.  All said that crowd control and directing of fans both outside and inside the stadium was excellent.
I would not recommend using DROP AND RIDE which operate from 2 points: the Westgate traffic hub in Central Johannesburg and Sandton.  Firstly both of these hubs are near fan parks (Innis Free at Sandton and Mary Fitzgerald Square near Westgate) so there is extra traffic build up with all the traffic coming in to the fan parks. Yesterday this caused major gridlocking particularly in Sandton. In addition from Sandton you are transported to the Westgate hub ie it is much more efficient to go directly to Westgate and cut out one leg of the journey.  

Feel good moments 
* The ‘Arch’ [Archbishop Desmond Tutu boogeying away in the VIP stands with his wide  grin and sheer infectious delight
* Bafana bafana breaking into song in the tunnel as the prepared to enter the field 
* The playful camaraderie between Bafana Bafana fans and Mexican fans in buses and railway carriages on the way to and from the stadium 
For some great photos of the opening ceremony see http://www.sport24.co.za/Galleries/Image/Soccer/2010%20World%20Cup/Opening%20ceremony

Tragic events We send Madiba and his family our deepest sympathies on the death of Zenani   

IF you do not have your own car you will need to use DROP AND RIDE
A Drop & Ride will be provided at Westgate where fans can be dropped off by family/friends/organized taxi.  The Westgate Transport Hub is near the Mary Fitzgerald Square Cnr Anderson Street and Miriam Makeba St/Pat Mbatha Bus & Taxiway, south of Newtown, CBD (closest highway: M2, off ramp Selby).  It has a Rea Vaya serving Ellis Park and Soccer City Stadiums. Rea Vaya is the city’s brand new bus rapid transport [BRT] system which runs west east from Soweto, through Central Johannesburg to Ellis Park. Price R12 return Tickets can be bought from all Rea Vaya Stations. Metrorail which is the City’s commuter train service will also link to Westgate but it is unlikely that international fans will be making heavy use of Metrorail.]

If you have a car:  Either PARK AND RIDE or PARK AND WALK
The City of Johannesburg has provided secure and affordable Park & Rides and Park & Walks. In order to access Park & Rides and Park & Walks you have to buy a transport ticket to book a parking space for your vehicle. This will ease congestion and allow you to rest assured that you will be able to get to your game safely and on time.
Park and Rides allow you to park your car close to the stadiums and be transported safely via shuttle and back. Prepaid ticket PRICE from R50 per car
Park and Walks allow you to park your car close to the stadiums and walk safely along a designated route to the stadium and back. Prepaid ticket PRICE from R50 per car
PLEASE NOTE:  There will be no access to Park & Rides and Park & Walks sites on game days without a ticket. You will need to purchase 1 Transport ticket per vehicle not per person. There will be no Drop and Ride (drop-off areas) at the Park & Ride or Park & Walks. The ticket price at Park and Ride Sites, includes your parking vehicle fee and the tansport fare to the stadium.   All Park and Ride and Park and Walks will operate from 4 hours before kick-off to 4.
Where are the Park and Rides/Park and Walks?
Ellis Park Park & Ride : 
• Bez Valley: Marcia Street, Observatory (east of CBD)
• Wits Campus: Enoch Sontonga Avenue, Braamfontein (northwest CBD)
• Con Hill (Constitution Hill): 92 Joubert Street, Braampark (northeast of CBD)
Ellis Park & Walk  Athlone Boys: 70 Bezuidenhout Ave, Cnr 3rd & 4th Str, Bezuidenhout Valley (1.8km to the stadium)
Soccer City Park & Ride  * Wits: Cnr Enoch Sontonga Avenue & Empire Road, Braamfontein (northwest CBD)
*  Gold Reef: Data Crescent, Gold Reef (south of CBD)
Soccer City Park and Walk
*Aeroton: Adcock Ingram Ave, Aeroton (approx 2km to the stadium)
*Shareworld: Nasrec Rd, Nasrec (900m to the stadium)
*Rand Show Road: Cnr Randshow & Aerodome Rd, Aeroton (approx 2km to the stadium)

Sandton Transport Hub    At different places in the Sandton area there will be pick up and drop off points for Metrobus, Gautrain and Buses from Lanseria Airport. Sandton Metrobus Service is a bus service from the Sandton Transport Hub to Westgate Transport Hub on match days. PRICE R20 one way to Westgate, R40 return to Westgate and R50 return ( including your Rea Vaya connection to the stadium)  
What airport services are available?
From OR Tambo International Airport [ORT]:  Gautrain rapid rail system operates to Sandton, via Rhodesfield and Marlboro Stations, with feeder buses from Sandton Station servicing Rivonia, Rosebank and the CBD. From Sandton to get to your game you can catch the Metrobus Service to Westgate, thereafter use Rea Vaya BRT or Metrorail to get you to the stadium. On match days there will be buses to the Westgate Transport Hub directly.
From Lanseria Airport:  Catch a shuttle to the Sandton Transport Hub and on game days use the Metrobus Service to Westgate; thereafter use Rea Vaya BRT or Metrorail to get you to the stadium
Where do I buy my transport tickets from?
www.ticketbreak.co.za  will be selling tickets online from the 14 May.