Myconnect – The convenient, cashless solution
In line with modern transport systems around the world, it is now possible to use myconnect on MyCiTi - the smartcard alternative to paper tickets. As your ticket to cashless travel, myconnect can also be used for low value transactions at merchants displaying the Mastercard PayPass™ or Mastercard Cash sign. myconnect saves you the hassle of finding cash every day, cuts down time queuing at the ticket kiosk and lets you budget for your travel costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is myconnect?
This card is part of an automated fare system that is faster and more convenient for users of MyCiTi buses. Once you have a myconnect card, you can load money onto it, in the same way as you buy airtime for a mobile phone or prepaid electricity for a meter. myconnect is a ‘contactless’ way to pay. When you board a MyCiTi bus or enter a station, hold your card against the symbol on a validator (see below). The correct fare is automatically
deducted from the balance on your card.
There will be portable validators on the buses. Tap your card on the symbol on the validator, or simply hold you card near a hand-held validator, which will be in use in stations.
What is the benefit for me?
The myconnect is aimed at providing a more convenient way to commute, in line with modern transport systems around the world. It saves you the need to carry small change every day, cuts down on time queuing at kiosks and allows you to budget for your travel in advance.
What kind of a card is it?
This card is an anonymous low-value bankcard, similar to an electronic or virtual wallet or e-purse. You do not have to have a bank account to purchase the card or load value onto it. In the future, you will be able to use this card for low-value purchases of goods at retailers, for parking or anywhere you see the MasterCard PayPass logo.
What are the limitations of the card?
There is a maximum transaction amount of R200. You can load any amount of money on the card – up to R1 500 at a time – with a maximum limit of R3 000 with a 30 day period. How much you load is up to you.
How secure is the card?
Keep your card safe, in the same way as you would look after cash. If you lose your card, somebody else use could use the funds on it, as it is an anonymous card.
However, you can have the card blocked and the remaining funds loaded onto a new card. Here is what to do:
- Report the missing card to the Transport Information Centre on toll-free number 0800 65-64-63. You need your original receipt, with the card number on it.
- Request that your card is blocked, and this will be done almost immediately. Write down your reference number the TIC gives you.
- Get a new card. The funds from the old card will be transferred onto your new card in about 30 days.
How do I use the card?
MyCiTi uses devices called validators to automatically deduct fares from the balance on your myconnect card. There are portable validators on buses and MyCiTi staff members have hand-held ones at stations.
This is how to use them:
- Place your card on the device against the ‘contactless’ symbol.
- When the light flashes or you hear a beep, your transaction has been completed and the fare deducted.
Lights flash on the validator when the fare has been deducted.
Where can I use the card?
You can use it on the bus where you will simply tap the card against the validator as you enter a station or board a feeder bus.
You can also use it at any retailer such as Pick n Pay, Spar, coffee shops etc for low value purchases, up to a maximum of R200.00 per transaction. You will be required to insert your card into the paypoint and enter your unique PIN to complete the transaction.
What if, for any reason, I need to get my money back off the card?
You will not be refunded with the balance on the card, however you can use the card at any retailer such as Pick n Pay, Spar, coffee shops etc to use up the balance on the card. Alternatively you can use it to pay for trips on the bus to deplete the funds on the card, or choose to forfeit the balance.
Then, either destroy the card, or return it to the City’s cash office situated in the Civic Centre, Hertzog Blvd for a refund on the issuing fee of the card (NB - you will have to provide your issuing receipt to obtain this refund and the card must have been used at least once for a trip on MyCiTi to be eligible for a refund.)
How do I get the myconnect card?
The myconnect cards are available for R23 from any MyCiTi station kiosk.
When can I start using my card?
Cards can be used from the beginning of 2012, and became compulsory from Saturday 28 January 2012
What is the process for acquiring the card?
Step 1:
Agree to the MyCiTi Rules (a summary of these rules are mounted on the kiosk window, a MyCiTi Rules book is available, at the kiosk, to read whilst at the station – it must be handed back to the kiosk before leaving the station. The MyCiTi Rules are also available on the City’s website – www.capetown.gov.za/myciti )
Step 2:
Pay a R23 issuing fee for the card for which you will be given a receipt. If you keep your receipt, you will be able to sell the card back to the City for the amount for which it was purchased.
Step 3:
The kiosk attendant will then place the card into the card device and you will then be asked to confirm as to whether to proceed or not.
Step 4:
Assuming you’ve agreed to proceed, you will then be required to change your PIN to a number of your choice and that you will remember. Should you not remember your PIN in the future, you will not be able to make use of your card.
Step 5:
After you have changed the PIN on your card, you will now be able to load money onto the card which you will need to pay for in cash.
NB: The fee for loading money onto the card is calculated as follows: a minimum fee of
R1.50 is charged if the money loaded is below R60. If you load more than R60 2.5% of money loaded is charged. We recommend loading R65 or more to minimise the load fee, but you can load less if you choose to.
How do I check my balance?
You can check your balance and get a mini-statement showing the last 10 transactions at any trunk station kiosk. You will need to punch in your PIN number.
Alternatively ask the station conductor holding the validator to tell you your balance. Please notify the conductor before you tap you card so he knows to look out for it.
Where can I top up my card?
Load more value on your card at any MyCiTi trunk station. The validator will alert you when the balance on your card drops below R20. If you don’t have enough money for the fare on your card, you won’t be able to catch the bus until you have loaded more value on your card.
In future, you will be able to buy cards and load more value on cards at selected retailers. Until then, you will receive two free ‘emergency’ tickets –equivalent to one trunk trip or two feeder trips – when you first purchase your card.
Can more than one person use a card?
It is recommended that every MyCiTi user has their own card, as in future only one person per card will be allowed.
Can one person own more than one card?
Yes. You can buy MyCiTi cards for all your family members or even for your staff members.
myconnect - a quick guide
What to listen out for
If you tap your card correctly
You will hear a ‘long beep’ followed by two ‘beeps’.
If you have a low balance
The card reader will beep to alert you when you have R20 or less, and you will be advised to top up for future trips
If you have insufficient funds
There will be a ‘long beep’ followed by one ‘beep’. When you remove the card, the message displayed is ‘Online Request’ followed by ‘Transaction Declined’.
Calculating your load fee
| Rand value |
Fixed Bank Fee |
Actual Card Load Balance |
| R 5 |
R 1.50 |
R 3.50 |
| R 10 |
R 1.50 |
R 8.50 |
| R 15 |
R 1.50 |
R 13.50 |
| R 20 |
R 1.50 |
R 18.50 |
| R 25 |
R 1.50 |
R 23.50 |
| R 30 |
R 1.50 |
R 28.50 |
| R 35 |
R 1.50 |
R 33.50 |
| R 40 |
R 1.50 |
R 38.50 |
| R 45 |
R 1.50 |
R 43.50 |
| R 50 |
R 1.50 |
R 48.50 |
| R 55 |
R 1.50 |
R 53.50 |
| R 60 |
R 1.50 |
R 58.50 |
| R 61 |
R 1.53 (2.50%) |
R 59.48 |
| R 62 |
R 1.55 (2.50%) |
R 60.45 |
| R 63 |
R 1.58 (2.50%) |
R 61.43 |
| R 64 |
R 1.60 (2.50%) |
R 62.40 |
| R 65 |
R 1.63 (2.50%) |
R 63.38 |
| R 70 |
R 1.75 (2.50%) |
R 68.25 |
| R 75 |
R 1.88 (2.50%) |
R 73.13 |
| R 80 |
R 2.00 (2.50%) |
R 78.00 |
| R 85 |
R 2.13 (2.50%) |
R 82.88 |
| R 90 |
R 2.25 (2.50%) |
R 87.75 |
| R 95 |
R 2.38 (2.50%) |
R 92.63 |
| R 100 |
R 2.50 (2.50%) |
R 97.50 |
| R 105 |
R 2.63 (2.50%) |
R 102.38 |
| R 110 |
R 2.75 (2.50%) |
R 107.25 |
| R 115 |
R 2.88 (2.50%) |
R 112.13 |
| R 120 |
R 3.00 (2.50%) |
R 117.00 |
| R 125 |
R 3.13 (2.50%) |
R 121.88 |
| R 130 |
R 3.25 (2.50%) |
R 126.75 |
| R 135 |
R 3.38 (2.50%) |
R 131.63 |
| R 140 |
R 3.50 (2.50%) |
R 136.50 |
| R 145 |
R 3.63 (2.50%) |
R 141.38 |
| R 150 |
R 3.75 (2.50%) |
R 146.25 |
| R 155 |
R 3.88 (2.50%) |
R 151.13 |
| R 160 |
R 4.00 (2.50%) |
R 156.00 |
| R 165 |
R 4.13 (2.50%) |
R 160.88 |
| R 170 |
R 4.25 (2.50%) |
R 165.75 |
| R 175 |
R 4.38 (2.50%) |
R 170.63 |
| R 180 |
R 4.50 (2.50%) |
R 175.50 |
| R 185 |
R 4.63 (2.50%) |
R 180.38 |
| R 190 |
R 4.75 (2.50%) |
R 185.25 |
| R 195 |
R 4.88 (2.50%) |
R 190.13 |
| R 200 |
R 5.00 (2.50%) |
R 195.00 |