1

You might not be into Museums but you will be in to the Apartheid museum. You need to go there to understand South Africa. Definitely worth it.

2

How about if I just catch the gautrain to park station?

3

There's a luggage office in the airport, I think they hid it by the police office below the steps to the right of the tourism office as you enter arrivals.
You can easily take the Gautrain into town for a sniff of Joburg. You could get off at Sandton which is like Canary Wharf minus the docks, or at Rosebank which is a more charming but still new and upmarket part of town.
If you're an intrepid traveller, take it to Park station and then take the connecting Gautrain bus (weekdays only, at the airport ask them to include it in the ticket) further into the city centre (the streets in the 3-4 immediately to south of Park Station are some of the few I wouldn't readily walk alone).
Then explore: start at the Carlton Centre, go to the top of the tallest skyscraper. Walk west along Main Street via Ghandi Square to the grandest part of Main Street with the 1930s Anglogold HQ and other interesting mining-related buildings and relics. This part of town could be any CBD; streetside cafes and coffee places, workers of all colours leaving office buildings for lunch; not the District 9 image most people have of Joburg CBD.
Then see Mandela's law firm building and cross into Newtown for the Bus Factory, square and bars/restaurants. SAB Beer World if you're into that and prebooked. Then cross the Mandela suspension bridge into the cool Braamfontein student district; after the bridge turn right into Juta Street and at the end of the first block are the iconic Kitchener's Carvery bar from the 1890s and some cool new shops and cafes. You can safely walk east back to the Gautrain station in about 20 mins or take one of the BRT buses.
Additional sight tips: Maboneng district around the Arts on Main complex; this requires a short taxi/bus ride to the east part of the centre, it's a longish and not so salubrious walk. Or join a tour by pastexperiences.co.za, they also have themed city centre group walks you can join.
Don't count on the tourism stand to have a useful map (they'll probably advise you to take a cab to the aparheidsmuseum) - print your own google map out in advance. Maboneng, Juta 70, Braamfontein all have useful websites.

4

Jeroen, thanks a lot, but this advice came a bit late. I got the gautrain to Sandton which, as you say is not that interesting, but anyway, I was tired, only had about 4/5 hours, and it was better than sitting at the airport.

Many thanks

5

I'd try get into town. Gautrain to park Station might be your best bet and then a bus/taxi to newtown. Have a walk around, maybe a matinee at the Market if you like Theatre?

Best,

Jem
http://rentalsincapetown.com/