A fatal collision on the N12 near Johannesburg, leaving multiple people dead and the highway closed for hours, has turned routine commutes into gridlock for thousands of drivers. At the same time, ongoing bus vandalism is leaving many South Africans stranded, late for work, and worried about their safety. For commuters who still need to get from A to B every day, there is one alternative commuting SA option that is proving both practical and affordable: carpooling South Africa style through CrabaRide’s verified lift clubs.
In this article, we unpack what’s happening on our roads, how it affects your daily life, and how CrabaRide can help you move around more safely and reliably.
The recent N12 traffic disruption near Johannesburg, following a fatal crash between AIS and Black Hill, has highlighted just how vulnerable our major routes are. When a key highway like the N12 is closed for hours, traffic quickly backs up onto feeder roads, robots get jammed, and side streets in areas like Alberton, Roodepoort, and Soweto become gridlocked.
At the same time, many commuters who rely on buses are facing a different crisis. Reports of bus vandalism – from smashed windows to burned vehicles – are disrupting scheduled services, especially on busy commuter corridors into Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, and Durban. When fleets are damaged, operators pull buses off the road, leaving fewer vehicles to move the same number of people.
Major highways like the N12, N1, and M1 are frequently disrupted by crashes, protests, or planned closures.
Bus routes are less reliable due to vandalism, safety concerns, and vehicles being out of service.
Commuters are being told, “Find alternative routes” – but with very little practical support on how to do that safely and affordably.
For the average South African commuter, these disruptions are not abstract news headlines – they are your daily reality.
You may sit in traffic for hours on the N12, only to find out at the last robot that the freeway is closed ahead.
You burn extra petrol crawling through detours and backroads, which hits your wallet hard, especially with rising fuel prices.
You arrive at work late, stressed, and worried about getting home again in the evening peak.
Bus vandalism impact means sudden cancellations, fewer buses on key routes, and longer queues at ranks.
You may find your usual 06:00 bus from Soweto to Johannesburg CBD suddenly not running, with no clear communication.
When buses are pulled off the road, taxis and combis fill the gap – but that often means overcrowding, higher fares, and long waits in lines.
Increased delays: A Sandton to Midrand commute that used to take 30–40 minutes can suddenly stretch to 90 minutes if the N1 or N12 is affected.
Reduced availability: Fewer buses on the road mean some commuters stand at the stop or rank watching full vehicles pass them by.
Heightened safety concerns: People feel unsafe waiting in the dark at bus stops, or stuck on the side of a highway when traffic has come to a standstill.
Many South Africans are asking the same question: how do I keep getting to work, campus, or home reliably, without paying a fortune or putting my safety at risk?
In this climate, alternative commuting SA options are no longer a “nice-to-have” – they are essential. Carpooling, or joining a lift club, is one of the most practical solutions for everyday routes like:
Sandton to Midrand (offices and business parks)
Spread fuel and toll costs across 2–4 people, saving you 50–70% on commuting costs.
Allow flexible routing when highways like the N12 are blocked – a car can detour through local roads more easily than a bus.
Build small, trusted commuting “pods” where the same people travel together daily.
The challenge has always been trust and safety: how do you know who you’re getting a lift from, or who you’re inviting into your car?
That is exactly the gap CrabaRide was built to solve.
CrabaRide is South Africa’s trusted carpooling South Africa platform that helps you find verified drivers and passengers on your regular route, whether you’re in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, or Pretoria.
Instead of standing at a bus stop hoping the next bus hasn’t been vandalised, you can join a pre-arranged lift club with real people whose identities and vehicles are checked.
Verified drivers and passengers
Every user is ID-verified, and drivers’ car registrations are checked.
You’re not just hopping into a random car from a WhatsApp group – you can see who you’re riding with.
Flexible routes
When there’s an N12 traffic disruption, your lift club can agree to leave 15 minutes earlier, use an alternative route, or bypass known hotspots.
Drivers and passengers can chat and coordinate directly in advance.
Cost-effective shared costs
Instead of paying full fuel, tolls, and parking on your own, you split costs across the car.
This makes a Rosebank to OR Tambo airport commute, or a Durban North to Umhlanga commute, much more affordable than driving alone.
Community and consistency
You travel with the same people regularly – weekdays, shift patterns, or campus schedules – which builds trust.
Over time, many CrabaRide users form stable lift clubs that feel safer than anonymous public transport.
In short, when buses are off the road and highways are blocked, CrabaRide gives you a safe, structured way to share a hike that doesn’t depend on a single operator or risky last-minute arrangements.
You don’t need weeks to set this up. If your bus line has just been disrupted or the N12 has turned into a parking lot again, you can start exploring options today.
From where to where? (e.g. Soweto to Johannesburg CBD, Centurion to Sandton, Khayelitsha to Cape Town CBD)
What days? (Weekdays, specific shifts, weekend work)
What times? (Departure from home and from work)
This helps you match with drivers or passengers doing a similar route.
CrabaRide is built to be accessible to everyone:
Download the CrabaRide app on your smartphone and create an account.
Or visit the CrabaRide website if you prefer using a laptop or shared PC.
Or simply message the official CrabaRide WhatsApp number (+27 71 363 8315) if data or app storage is an issue.
You’ll be guided through a quick sign-up and verification process so you can start matching safely.
Add your car details and preferred route.
Indicate how many seats you have available and your rough fuel cost expectations.
Indicate if you’re flexible on pick-up points, such as meeting at a safe, busy robot or mall parking area.
Search for existing lift clubs on your route (e.g. “N12 Alberton to Sandton”, “Durban CBD to Pinetown”).
Or create a new regular ride and allow others to join you.
Route and timing details before you commit
Before your first ride, have a quick chat with your group in the app or via WhatsApp:
Confirm pick-up points and times (e.g. “Meet at the Engen near the robot at 06:15”).
Agree on cost-sharing upfront to avoid confusion.
Discuss basic rules: seatbelts on, no overcrowding, music volume, masks if someone is unwell, etc.
This helps everyone feel comfortable and keeps the arrangement professional.
Even with verification, it’s wise to follow common-sense safety steps:
Share your trip details with a trusted friend or family member.
Meet at well-lit, busy locations, not isolated corners.
Always buckle up and avoid getting into any vehicle that looks unsafe or overloaded.
Trust your instincts – if something feels wrong, say no and report it through the platform.
CrabaRide’s focus on ID and vehicle verification, plus the ability to rate and review, adds extra layers of accountability that you don’t get when you just flag down a random hike or taxi.
With the N12 and other major highways regularly hit by crashes, protests, and closures, and the ongoing bus vandalism impact shrinking formal public transport capacity, relying on “business as usual” is becoming more and more risky.
Are tired of being late because your bus simply doesn’t arrive
Feel unsafe waiting in the dark at the side of the road
Can’t afford the rising cost of solo driving and parking
Then CrabaRide offers a realistic, South African solution: verified, affordable, community-based carpooling that fits how we actually live and work.
Instead of being stuck when the next N12 traffic disruption hits or when another bus route is suspended, you can already be part of a stable lift club that keeps moving, no matter what.
You can’t control crashes on the N12 or vandalism on bus routes – but you can control how you respond.
Join a trusted lift club through CrabaRide, share your commute with verified South Africans on your route, and turn stressful, unpredictable trips into safer, more dependable travel.
Whether you’re commuting from Soweto to Braamfontein, Durban CBD to Umlazi, or Cape Town CBD to the Northern Suburbs, now is the time to make the switch: visit the CrabaRide website, download the app, or send a WhatsApp to +27 71 363 8315 and start your safer carpooling journey today.
Get started on Crab a Ride today: online at https://crabaride.co.za or directly via WhatsApp (+27713638315).
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