Public transport here in South africa comes in three forms. first is rail, where there is still track laid decades ago and where there is little done other than maintenance ( somewhat) and repair as it fails or is stolen. Second is government subsidised buses, run by a few large operators ( when they are not on strike as is the current state in Durban) and where they have somewhat regular schedules and routes.
Last is the pretty much unregulated and unsubsidised private bus and mini bus taxi industry, who run routes they decide, run when full and where the vehicle or the driver may be faulty in some way pretty much all the time. Literally a cowboy industry, complete with mobsters and armed enforcers to keep the lucrative routes under control.
The costs are cheapest for rail, but there are limited numbers of trains, but if you live 100km from work ( like some of my co workers do) the $3 per day is a lot better than bus at $30. Scheduled buses are next , but there again you have them with limited schedules and routes, some only having 2 in the morning and 2 in the evening for the whole route. Cost is fixed per route, and is often cheaper than travel by car.
Last we have the taxi industry, where you literally put up a hand and one will stop for you. Irrespective of where you are, I have seen them stop in the middle of the freeway in the fast lane to pick up passengers or drop them off. In town I just walk out the door, step to the end of the pavement and put up a hand with index finger up, and one will stop within 30 seconds from 6AM till 8PM. Cost is 50c in town from one end to the other.
Disadvantage is they literally stop for everybody, and stop everywhere to pick up or let off. But to save a 30 minute walk through town to get somewhere it is a lot better than driving, and paying $2 for a parking bay or street parking at the destination. Generally takes 10 minutes from one end to the other of the CBD. As well you have a choice of music, loud, louder and 'deaf in 3 minutes'. Combine with drivers that might have some vague idea of stop signs, traffic rules, tread on tyres, lights, indicators or a vehicle that is roadworthy, and you can have some interesting trips.
Then again in 1992 I was going to college, and took a bus there in the morning ( cheap) where I would be the only mlungu on the bus, and where new drivers would ask if I was in the right bus, as it was a "Green Mamba" and not a "Blue line" bus, though in 1994 they all became Aquamarine, then recently non functional. Way back home was on the private buses, or the first Green line that came, though I avoided the one bus, where I could hear it coming 1km away, as I figured a bus with a sound system that took up the back 3 rows, and all the overhead compartments, would be bad for continued hearing.