eThekwini Municipality’s Transport Authority (ETA) to spend half a million rand to replace nearly 8,000 expired MUVO cards.
Image: MUVO
Replacing nearly 8,000 expired MUVO cards will cost the eThekwini Municipality’s Transport Authority (ETA) about R500,000.
The smartcard, introduced in July 2012, can be used across Durban’s three bus services: the People Mover, Durban Transport, and Mynah buses.
For a limited time, new cards will be issued to the public free of charge.
A report from the Human Settlements, Engineering and Transport Committee outlined that the first batch of cards issued in 2012 expired in 2017, which prompted a no-cost replacement for commuters who needed access to the service.
However, as of now, several additional batches are on the brink of expiry, including those that expired in February, March, and May 2021, as well as various batches expiring between December 2022 and June 2025.
“Once a card reaches its expiry date, it becomes non-functional, preventing commuters from loading additional trips or tapping on board buses,” the report stated.
ETA explained that the first batch of cards, issued in 2012, expired in 2017 and was replaced at no cost to commuters because there was no alternative way to access the service.
Later batches expired in February, March and May 2021; December 2022; December 2023; November and December 2024; and June 2025. More cards are set to expire on May 31, June 30 and October 31, 2026.
The committee also confirmed that procurement is under way to replace the current Automated Fare Collection (AFC) system. The new system will allow commuters to use their own devices or non-expiring MUVO cards, with the transition expected to take 18 to 24 months.
The replacement process will follow this schedule:
Cards handed in between April 1, 2026, and July 31, 2026, will be replaced free of charge.
Cards handed in from August 1, 2026, will cost R20 to replace.
Cards handed in between September 1, 2026, and November 30, 2026, will again be replaced free of charge.
Cards handed in from December 1, 2026, will cost R20 per card.
During discussions, the committee asked ETA to present a report at the next meeting detailing how many scholars, pensioners and people with disabilities are included in the programme.