TRANSPORT A CATALYST FOR SOCIO-ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE.

 

SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE BEING FACED BY THE SA
TRANSPORT SECTOR

The transport department is facing a challenge of deficiency in terms of capacity and
reliability of transport this results in economic costs such as lower quality of life and
reduced opportunities (Rodrigue&Notteboom, 1998).Inefficient transportation
increases costs. The second challenged being faced is congestion caused the
provision of free or low cost transport infrastructure to users .Nevertheless
congestion can also be viewed as an indication of a growing economy were
infrastructure and capacity have difficulties keeping up with the rising movement
demands. South Africa is in desperate need of a sustainable and viable public
transport system. According to the South Africa National Taxi Council taxis transport
roughly 15-16 million commuters daily which is about 71% of the community public
labour force. This industry is plagued with safety and health issues and a record of
poor driving and death .This mainly is caused by unskilled drivers and those who
drink and drive (Oxford, 2013).


The other challenge is the condition of roads particularly in the Eastern Cape
Province. The South African roads lack maintenance especially those that are in
rural areas. Lastly under the challenges is the issue of profitable foreign tonnage
transported by road transport in the country (Henderson, 2016) .The use of road
infrastructure but tonnage freight has been increasing over the past years .The
increase is primarily due to fluctuations and accumulating needs of South Africa
supply chains and a number of challenges faced by the rail operator such as low
service levels, lack of flexibility and capital; investment delays. This puts an
enormous pressure on the road infrastructure most of which is already in a bad state
(Henderson, 2016).

MEASURES THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERD TO IMPROVE THE
TRANSPORT SECTOR 

There are complimentary measures that are designed to improve public transport.
The main purpose of this design measure is to improve urban viability, improve
sustainable transportation and also public transportation operations. These
complimentary measures includes viable streets and traffic calming (McCann
&Rynne, 2010). Traffic calming are designed to reduce the volume and speed of
cars using local streets. Traffic calming is important for public transport because it
helps create an environment where pedestrians can walk and bike more safely and
conveniently .This makes it easier and more pleasant to reach public transport. The
department of transport should create a policy measure to drive home the drunk
public.

The transport sector should improve on the time taken when refurbishing and
constructing roads. Stop and goes along the road should be minimized through quick
project construction to avoid traffic congestion and road accidents. Roads leading to
tourists destinations should be maintained regularly so as to attract tourists from
abroad this will lead to economic growth as the country will be earning foreign
currency from the tourists who come from other countries. The Dot should improve
sea transport to avoid congestion on the road infrastructure. The transport
department should refurbish the rail infrastructure multi-billion of rand should be
allocated to the rail infrastructure to improve its transport systems. If the rail transport
is refurnished the commercial freight tonnage will use the rail rather than straining
the road infrastructure which already in a bad state .The Dot should try to upgrade
the public transport networks to make them more convenient and reliable so that
those individuals who use their personal cars to work will leave them home and
consider going to work with Gautrain this will reduce congestion in big cities like
Gauteng and Cape Town. The transport infrastructure should try to build up roads
with different routes that goes to the rural parts of the country this will create
employment and also reduces the rural urban migration. 

Source:

University of Fort Hare

Department of Economics

TRANSPORT A CATALYST FOR SOCIO-ECONOMIC
GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO
IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE

South Africa

Mozambique Doing Business - South Africa

2025

Link :  https://repository.up.ac.za/server/api/core/bitstreams/1d7957e9-914b-403c-984f-7ac933753c3c/content

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