Transport in South Africa

Apartheid led to the massive expansion of South Africa's road and bus systems in order to transport black workers from bantustans they had been forcibly removed from to urban areas. As a result of the severe wealth inequality under apartheid, the apartheid government heavily subsidized bus systems at the rate of $1,000 per commuter. For bantustans such as KwaNdebele, the apartheid regime provided a higher bus subsidy than their gross domestic product.[2]

The national speed limit is 60 km/h in residential areas and 120 km/h on national roads/freeways/motorways.

Cape Town Taxi Cab Advertising Shimansky

Hitchhiker looking for transport in Maboneng, Johannesburg

In 2002 the country had 362,099  km of highways, 73,506  km (17%) of which was paved (including 239  km of expressways).[3]

In South Africa, the term freeway differs from most other parts of the world. A freeway is a road where certain restrictions apply.[4] The following are forbidden from using a freeway:

• a vehicle drawn by an animal;
• a pedal cycle (such as a bicycle);
• a motor cycle having an engine with a cylinder capacity not exceeding 50 cm³ or that is propelled by electrical power;
• a motor tricycle or motor quadrucycle;
• pedestrians

Drivers may not use hand signals on a freeway (except in emergencies) and the minimum speed on a freeway is 60 km/h (37 mph). Drivers in the rightmost lane of multi-carriageway freeways must move to the left if a faster vehicle approaches from behind to overtake.

Despite popular opinion that "freeway" means a road with at least two carriageways, single carriageway freeways exist, as is evidenced by the statement that "the roads include 1400 km of dual carriageway freeway, 440 km of single carriageway freeway and 5300 km of single carriage main road with unlimited access."[5] The Afrikaans translation of freeway is snelweg (literally fast road or expressway).

Minibus Taxis are the predominant form of transport for people in urban areas of South Africa.[6] This is due to their availability and affordability to the public.[7] Most minibus taxis are not subsidized by the state and the taxi industry is notorious for using vehicles that are not well maintained are that are often not roadworthy to keep costs low.[8] Because many taxi owners own just a few taxis and each owner may choose to manage their business differently, there is not much known as to the inner workings of the industry that is rife with violence. Since 1994 there have been efforts to formalize the industry but as taxi organisations often don't abide by labour regulations, relationships between taxi operators and the state are often strained.

In South Africa, the "Motor car" is defined as a motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle or a motor tricycle, designed or adapted solely or principally for the conveyance of persons not exceeding sixteen (16) in number, but excluding any vehicle with an axle with more than two (2) wheels irrespective of tyre size.[9] This makes the south-African motor-car definition quite close from the ISO definition of a minibus (17 seats driver included).

In 2021, there are 349 671 registered minibuses.[10] In 2021, there are 73 953 unroadworthy, unlicensed or both minibuses, including 48450 unroadworthy and 20163 unlicensed one.[10]

Cape Town My City Bus

The City of Cape Town has made it clear that developing public transportation must be a priority, if it is to achieve its long-term developmental goals. As such, the city has planned out the development of an Integrated Rapid Transit (IRT) system called "MyCiTi IRT". In 2007, the construction of this system began with the implementation of Cape Town's "Bus Rapid Transit" system. This first phase has been designed to enable easy integration of other forms of public transport – ranging from cycling to South Africa's famous minibuses in later phases of the IRT development[11] – including rail transit, seen currently as "the backbone of public transportation in Cape Town."[12]

South Africa's road traffic system might be less effective than most industrial countries but is not worst that other African nations. South Africa has an institutional framework for road safety led by the Road Traffic Management Corporation. South African laws follow global best practice, including speed limits, drink-driving, motorcycle helmets, seat-belts, child restraints and mobile phone use.[13]

South Africa counts 26 deaths each year for 100,000 people (260 per million) a higher rate than the global average of 18 per 100,000 (180 per millions).[13]

In 2021, the country recorded 12 541 road fatalities, for 11 726 476 vehicles (7.6 million motor vehicles and over 2.6 million light delivery vehicles/bakkies).[14] With "Motor vehicle" means powered units including motorcycle, motor tricycle, motor car, vehicle which has pedals and a mechanically/electrically powered unit or light delivery vehicle known as bakkie.[9]

People killed in road accidents are mostly pedestrians: 37.6%; passengers: 32% and drivers: 27%.[15]

58% of road deaths are attributed to alcohol use, which makes alcohol a leading factor in such fatalities.[13] South Africa had the highest number of drunk driving incidents among WHO survey[15] (see Driving under the influence)

Pedestrian (37% of deaths) may be affected by a 60 km/h posted speed limit in residential and urban areas, a speed so excessive that it reduces pedestrians chance of survival to make such a chance very minimal.[15]

Also, in South Africa rate for front seat seatbelt-wearing is 31% (lower than Norway's 95%),[13] and between 45 and 60% for drivers.[15]

Vehicle maintenance issues causes 9% of road accident, including tyres, brakes and lights issues.[15] When vehicle safety is involved, tire is the first issue in 41% of vehicle factors.[10]

When a crash is considered major, crash type is often head-on (44%), multi vehicles (16%) and T-Bone (15%).[10]

• Angola
• Tanzania same gauge as far as Dar es Salaam – transshipment to 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) gauge at Kidatu
• Malawi
• Congo
• Botswana
• Lesotho
• Mozambique, under repair
• Namibia
• Eswatini
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

South Africa has international airports in four cities: Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Nelspruit. The main international airports are in Johannesburg, and to a lesser extent Cape Town. Nelspruit's international airport mainly serves travellers en route to the Kruger National park.[18]

There are many international airlines travelling to South Africa, giving travellers a healthy number of options. These include British Airways, Delta Airlines, Ethiopian Airways, Kenya Airways, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Swiss International Air Lines, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Air Mauritius, Air Botswana, Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, Alitalia, Malaysia Airlines and Qatar Airways.[19]