Sandton commuters got more than just a train ride on October 3.
Gautrain unveiled its new Art in Transit project, transforming platforms and trains into living canvases for South African art, storytelling, and performance.
The initiative, launched at Sandton Station in partnership with the Market Theatre Foundation, reimagines public transport as a cultural experience.
Commuters were treated to live theatre, performances, and a striking photographic exhibition that turned the station into a buzzing stage.
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Tshepo Kgobe, CEO of the Gautrain Management Agency, said, “Art in Transit is about more than aesthetics; it’s about transformation. We want Gautrain to be a space where people pause, connect, and reflect, not just pass through.”
For the Market Theatre Foundation, the collaboration marks a milestone ahead of its 50th anniversary in 2026.
CEO Tshiamo Mokgadi described the project as historic, placing South African art in spaces beyond galleries and theatres.
“The history of passenger rail has always been intertwined with storytelling. Every journey is a performance, with passengers as the cast. Through this partnership, travel becomes narrative, where movement and meaning converge,” Mokgadi said.
@caxtonjoburgnorth Tshepo Kgobe, CEO of the Gautrain Management Agency, speaks about the Art in Transit initiative on October 3, 2025, in Sandton. Video: Duduzile Khumalo#LocalNews #trendingviralvideo #caxtonlocalmedia #gautrain #SA ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North
The Gauteng Tourism Authority has also thrown its weight behind the project, linking it to the province’s broader Destination Beautification and Place Marketing Strategy.
GTA CEO Sthembiso Dlamini stressed that reliable transport underpins tourism.
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“Whether international visitors are landing at OR Tambo or local tourists are exploring the country, their entire experience depends on how easily they can move around. Initiatives like this help create pride, beauty, and identity in our public spaces,” she said.
The project will roll out in phases across the Gautrain network throughout Transport Month.
For commuters, it means their daily journey could now come with a touch of theatre, music, or visual storytelling.
As Kgobe put it, “This is just the beginning.
The Gautrain is becoming more than a train, it’s a stage, a gallery, and a mirror of who we are as South Africans.”
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