
APM Bus bookings South Africa
APM, full name African People Mover (Pty) Ltd, offers cheap bus tickets between all the major cities in South Africa, as well as to a plethora of smaller ones - they're easy to spot - just keep an eye out for the white and red buses. The company started offering intercity coach trips on the 12th December 2014. APM offers a service in the following provinces of South Africa: Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, Northern Cape and the Western Cape.
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Bookings/Reservations & discounts
Booking an APM Bus ticket
Website bookings can be made via their website (www.apmbus.co.za or www.apmbus.com) - unfortunately their website is sometimes down; or www.apmwc.bookings.ratality.com.
If their website's down, then you can try make a call centre booking,
- phone 021-100-5126 or 012-001-1122
Head office: 012-001-7777
Fax number: 087-809-5626
Email APM at info@apmwesterncape.com (email is a good option to use to communicate with APM WC; they replied to an email of ours on a Saturday within an hour)
Or visit at 50 Delfos Road in Pretoria.
Sales outlets
Braamfontein Station, Durban Station and Pretoria Station.
Specials
Whilst not exactly a special, APM are proud of retaining their fares at the same price, regardless of whether it's a peak travel time or not.
APM sometimes offer accommodation specials - e.g. in June 2016 they offered a special with Zwinoni Lodge.
Western Cape service franchisee
Phone 021 100 5126
Phone or WhatsApp: 061-4026265
Email info@apmwesterncape.com
Social media contact details
On Twitter : @apmbus
On Facebook: @apmbus
APM Bus Routes
The main routes to Johannesburg are: Cape Town to Johannesburg, Sibasa to Johannesburg, Nelspruit to Johannesburg, Durban to Johannesburg, Umtata to Johannesburg, East London to Johannesburg and PE to Johannesburg.
The main routes to Cape Town are: Polokwane to Cape Town, Pretoria/Tshwane to Cape Town, Nelspruit to Cape Town, Johannesburg to Cape Town, Bloemfontein to Cape Town, East London to Cape Town, Queenstown to Cape Town, Port Elizabeth to Cape Town, Knysna to Cape Town, George to Cape Town, Mossel Bay to Cape Town, Paarl to Cape Town.
APM Cape Town to Johannesburg
Route Number: 1010; scheduled to take about 19 hours:
- CAPE TOWN
- Pickup: 13:00
- BELLVILLE
- Drop-Off: 13:25 - Pickup: 13:30
- PAARL
- Drop-Off: 13:55 - Pickup: 14:00
- WORCESTER
- Drop-Off: 14:40 - Pickup: 14:45
- LAINGSBURG
- Drop-Off: 15:40 - Pickup: 15:45
- BEAUFORT WEST
- Drop-Off: 19:15 - Pickup: 19:20
- THREE SISTERS
- Drop-Off: 20:15 - Pickup: 20:20
- VICTORIA WEST
- Drop-Off: 20:55 - Pickup: 21:00
- BRITSTOWN
- Drop-Off: 21:55 - Pickup: 22:00
- HOPE TOWN
- Drop-Off: 23:10 - Pickup: 23:15
- KIMBERLEY CBD
- Drop-Off: 00:55 - Pickup: 01:00
- KIMBERLEY
- Drop-Off: 01:25 - Pickup: 01:30
- WARRENTON
- Drop-Off: 02:25 - Pickup: 02:30
- CHRISTIANA
- Drop-Off: 02:55 - Pickup: 03:00
- BLOEMHOF
- Drop-Off: 03:25 - Pickup: 03:30
- WOLMARANSSTAD
- Drop-Off: 04:10 - Pickup: 04:15
- KLERKSDORP
- Drop-Off: 05:10 - Pickup: 05:15
- POTCHEFSTROOM
- Drop-Off: 06:10 - Pickup: 06:15
- JOHANNESBURG
- Drop-Off: 07:55
Competitors:
- Intercape from Cape Town to Johannesburg (Budgetliner and Blue Sky Intercity are usually cheapest)
APM Johannesburg to Cape Town
Route Number: 1002; scheduled to take 18 hours and 45 minutes:
- JOHANNESBURG PARK STATION
- Pickup: 13:00
- KROONSTAD
- Drop-Off: 15:25 - Pickup: 15:45
- WELKOM
- Drop-Off: 16:35 - Pickup: 16:40
- BLOEMFONTEIN
- Drop-Off: 18:40 - Pickup: 18:50
- COLESBERG
- Drop-Off: 21:30 - Pickup: 21:45
- BEAUFORT WEST
- Drop-Off: 01:25 - Pickup: 01:30
- LAINGSBURG
- Drop-Off: 03:00 - Pickup: 03:05
- WORCESTER
- Drop-Off: 05:30 - Pickup: 05:35
- PAARL
- Drop-Off: 06:10 - Pickup: 06:15
- BELLVILLE
- Drop-Off: 07:20 - Pickup: 07:25
- CAPE TOWN RAILWAY STATION'S INTERCITY BUS SECTION (WESTERN SIDE)
- Drop-Off: 07:45
Competitors:
- Intercape from Johannesburg to Cape Town (Budgetliner and Blue Sky Intercity are usually cheapest)
APM Johannesburg to East London
Route Number: 7200; scheduled to take about 15 hours:
- JOHANNESBURG
- Pickup: 19:30
- KROONSTAD
- Drop-Off: 22:15 - Pickup: 22:30
- BLOEMFONTEIN
- Drop-Off: 01:05 - Pickup: 01:10
- ALIWAL NORTH
- Drop-Off: 04:00 - Pickup: 04:05
- QUEENSTOWN
- Drop-Off: 06:10 - Pickup: 06:15
- QUEENSTOWN SHELL ULTRA CITY
- Drop-Off: 06:25 - Pickup: 06:40
- WHITTLESEA
- Drop-Off: 07:10 - Pickup: 07:15
- FORT BEAUFORT
- Drop-Off: 08:35 - Pickup: 08:40
- ALICE
- Drop-Off: 09:00 - Pickup: 09:05
- KING WILLIAMS TOWN
- Drop-Off: 09:50 - Pickup: 09:55
- EAST LONDON
- Drop-Off: 10:30
Competitors:
- Intercape from Johannesburg to East London (Budgetliner and Blue Sky Intercity are usually cheapest)
- Greyhound buses launched the JHB to East London route on 13 Jun 2025.
- City to City buses offer a service from
- Johannesburg to East London Station
- Johannesburg to East London Windmill
APM Johannesburg to Queenstown (Komani, in the Eastern Cape)
Route Number: 7000; scheduled to take a10 bout and 25 minutes:
- JOHANNESBURG
- Pickup: 19:00
- KROONSTAD
- Drop-Off: 21:25 - Pickup: 21:45
- Drop-Off: 21:25 - Pickup: 21:45
- BLOEMFONTEIN
- Drop-Off: 00:20 - Pickup: 00:40
- Drop-Off: 00:20 - Pickup: 00:40
- ALIWAL NORTH
- Drop-Off: 03:05 - Pickup: 03:10
- Drop-Off: 03:05 - Pickup: 03:10
- QUEENSTOWN
- Drop-Off: 05:25
Competitors:
- Intercape from Johannesburg to Queenstown (Budgetliner's usually cheapest)
Meal breaks
APM don't sell food on board their buses, but there are plenty of stops along the routes where you can get off and buy food (just be sure to do it quickly, you don't want to be waiting for your burger to be cooked whilst the bus is leaving).
Fleet
APM's fleet consists of the following size coaches:
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64 seater
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60 seater
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52 seater
NB: Their "semi-luxury coaches" do not have onboard toilets.
Bus models used are:
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Scania Touring
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Scania Marcopolo
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Scania Irizar
FAQ
See their terms and conditions for the latest up to date information.
Departure: Passengers must be at the departure point at least half an hour before the departure time. If you arrive later you may not be able to board.
Identification: To board an APM bus, you need a valid ticket and corresponding identification document. Note that there are additional requirements fo minor children.
Children: Children younger than 3 may travel on the lap of their parent/legal guardian; free of charge. Children younger than 12 may not travel alone - they must have a legal guardian or parent with them. Children older than 12 but younger than 18 may only travel alone, if their parent/legal guardian has signed the correct indemnity form, provided an affidavit proving consent from at least one of his parents/legal guardian if travelling into or out of SA, and in the case of a legal guardian a court order proving they have legal rights.
Ticket cancellation & refunds: APM bus tickets may be cancelled subject to payment of a cancellation fee (25% if cancelling within 3 hours of the departure time, or 10% otherwise) - a refund is not made, but rather a voucher is given which must be used within 3 years; and the passenger can use it when switching to an alternate date. Passengers who arrive within an hour after the departure time receive a 50% penalty, and can transfer to the next departure; whilst pasengers arriving more than an hour late, unfortunately get a 100% penalty. Tickets may be cancelled by phoning 087 820 8111 and faxing the relevant info to 087 809 5626.
Hop on hop off: This is not allowed - the trip must be done in one continuous stretch. If you'd like a hop-on-hop-off option, try the Baz Bus.
Luggage: The luggage allowance on APM buses is two suitcases whose total weight should not exceed 20kg (30kg for international trips) and each suitcase should have the following maximum dimensions: 80cmx60cmx30cm. Any luggage weighing more than the free allowance will be charged at the applicable rate.
APM coaches do not accept any luggage at their own discretion; but in particular inter alia firearms, narcotics, animals, corpses, coffins, ammunition, hazardous/harmful chemicals, explosives or toxic substances.
The following must be properly packaged: electronic equipment, sporting equipment and fluorescent signs.
Alcohol & smoking: Consumption of alcohol as well as smoking is not permitted on all APM coaches.
Pets: No pets are permitted on any of their buses save for trained guide dogs, for which prior notification has to be given before date of departure.
History, News & Info.
APM's ownership is more than 50% black. Their intercity buses were launched by Tumisang Kgabosele and Johann Ferreira in December 2014.
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30 Nov 2021. The order for the provisional winding up of APM, is made final.
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28 Sep 2021. An order is given for the provisional winding up of APM.
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1 Jul 2021. APM applies to Pretoria's North Gauteng High Court to have its business rescue heard on an urgent basis.
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22 Mar 2020. Citing the need to slow down the spread of Covid-19, APM announces that it is temporarily suspending services from 25 March 2020.
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2 Mar 2020. The Competition Tribunal rules that APM does not have an automatic right to use Johannesburg's Park Station, and should pay the outstanding arrears it owes PRASA. The matter was between APM, PRASA, Autopax (a subsidiary of PRASA, which runs the "City to City" and "Translux" brands) and the Minister of Transport. Click here to see the full ruling of the Tribunal. APM had requested that PRASA should charge a reasonable fee for its buses to use Johannesburg's Park Station (which is owned by PRASA); and that Translux/City to City should be charged the same fee and have the same conditions of access. APM said that Autopax was in financial trouble and was in arrears with respect to its use of Johannesburg's Park Station. APM had stopped paying PRASA fees until a fee agreement was reached; as at 31 May 2019 APM's oustanding fees were some R12m. The vast majority of the R12m arrears was from Johannesburg's Park Station, but there were also arrears at the following other stations: Cape Town, Durban, East London, Germiston, King Williams Town, Port Elizabeth, Pretoria, Queenstown, APM had posited that the average fare it charged for s was R298 in 2018, and that accounted for 38 percent of its revenue; they further held that the R480 access fee to Park Station reduced their gross margin from 18 percent to 10 percent.
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2018. APM suffers at 17% reduction in annual revenue, due to the six week nationwide bus strike in South Africa, which took place during the high demand Easter holiday period. This leads to the company having to negotiate repayment terms with its creditors, and retrench about 45 of their 220 employees.
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30 Nov 2016. APM enters into a 1 year agreement with PRASA; to use Park Station in Johannesburg; at a fee of R480 for 1 hour for one bus, with an additional R150 payable for each 15 minutes in excess of an hour spent at Park Station.
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9 Jun 2016. Operations to Port Elizabeth, are launched.
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17 Nov 2015. Operations to Germiston Station are launched.
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2 Oct 2015. Operations to Sibasa, Limpopo, are launched.
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7 Jun 2015. Operations are launched in and out of Park Station in Johannesburg.
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30 Apr 2015. On the Durban - Pretoria route, 3 full buses were run for the first time.
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13 Apr 2015.Operations to Acornhoek begin
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7 Feb 2015. Tickets are now available for sale at Shoprite Checkers outlets.
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15 Dec 2014. APM's maiden voyage from Pretoria to Durban.
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12 Dec 2014. Founded by by Tumisang Kgaboesele, APM commences operations. They are up against some fierce competition: Intercape, City to City, Citiliner, Translux, Greyhound, Eldo coaches, Eagle Liner and Intercity Xpress.
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12 Nov 2014. APM's Facebook page gets going.
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Oct 2014. APM joins Twitter.
APM WESTERN CAPE SERVICES (PTY) LTD TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Check when you book whether the terms have changed since we last checked.
1. EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY
1.1. All persons entering an APM WESTERN CAPE SERVICES vehicle and/or property owned by APM WESTERN CAPE SERVICES or under its control do so entirely AT THEIR OWN RISK.
1.2. APM WESTERN CAPE SERVICES is not liable for any loss or damages (including consequential or special damages or loss of profits), loss of life, bodily injury or damage to or loss of property.
2. TICKET
2.1. The ticket is proof of the agreement of transport between APM WESTERN CAPE SERVICES, the purchaser of the ticket and the passenger, and the accompanying terms and conditions are the entire agreement between the passenger and APM WESTERN CAPE SERVICES.
2.2. A ticket is valid for the use only by the passenger to whom it is issued and for the route, date and time shown thereon. The passenger will be required to produce their unique ticket reference number and appropriate identification to check in. Please note the additional requirements for minor children further on.
3. TICKET CANCELLATIONS AND CHANGES
3.1. A ticket can be cancelled and loyalty programme currency issued subject to the following:
3.1.1. Outside Three Hours of Travel (10% Penalty; Transfer to alternate date or; Credit converted into loyalty programme currency; No cash refund; Passenger does not go back to Shoprite/Computicket)
3.2. Whilst APM WESTERN CAPE SERVICES will make all reasonable effort to keep to its scheduled timetables, APM WESTERN CAPE SERVICES does not guarantee any arrival or departure times, and it does not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred by any passenger, or inconvenience experienced by any person, due to a delay or cancellation of any service for whatsoever reason.
3.3. Passengers must be at the departure point 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time for domestic departures, and 1 (one) hour for cross-border departures.
4. CHILDREN
4.1. Children under 12 years will not be allowed to travel alone and must be accompanied by a parent or guardian older than 18 years.
4.2. Children between 12 and 18 years will be allowed to travel alone, provided that a prescribed APM WESTERN CAPE SERVICES indemnity form was completed by the legal guardian or parent in respect of each unaccompanied child. Please enquire with the consultant or agent upon purchase of the ticket.
5. LUGGAGE
5.1. APM WESTERN CAPE SERVICES reserves the right to charge an additional rate of R7.00 per kilogram for luggage exceeding the abovementioned limits. The kilograms as weighed by APM WESTERN CAPE SERVICES's scales will be the chargeable kilograms. In instances where such scales are not available charges will be as per the latest APM WESTERN CAPE SERVICES Luggage Price List.
6. GENERAL
6.1. Smoking and the use of alcohol or drugs on any APM WESTERN CAPE SERVICES vehicle are prohibited and forbidden by law and shall not be allowed on APM WESTERN CAPE SERVICES's vehicles. APM WESTERN CAPE SERVICES reserves the right not to transport any passenger who enters any APM WESTERN CAPE SERVICES vehicle whilst intoxicated and will forfeit the respective ticket without recourse
6.2. Fares are subject to change without prior notice from APM WESTERN CAPE SERVICES. Quotes are valid only at the time the quotation is provided, unless expressly indicated otherwise.
6.3. With the exception of trained guide dogs accompanying blind passengers, no pets will be allowed on APM WESTERN CAPE SERVICES's vehicles.
6.4. Expectant mothers: No passengers are allowed beyond 30 weeks of pregnancy. All passengers within 30 weeks of pregnancy must provide a medical certificate confirming their fitness to travel.
6.5. Passengers with special needs, including passengers with medical conditions and disabilities, are required to inform APM WESTERN CAPE SERVICES before they travel with APM WESTERN CAPE SERVICES.
6.6. Passengers requiring a wheelchair are advised to inform the consultant or agent upon booking of the ticket of such need.
6.7. The terms and conditions set out herein shall be severable of each other and the invalidity of any part of these terms and conditions shall not affect the validity of any other part. For a full record of our Terms and Conditions please contact us on +27 (0) 21 100 5126.