Navigating the Crossroads: Addressing Transport Poverty and Social Equity in South Africa

Transport poverty in South Africa is influenced by historical contexts, urban sprawl, and inadequate transport policies. The reliance on informal micro-transit services exacerbates financial burdens on low-income households. This study aims to reflect on issues and the extent of transport poverty in South Africa by i) identifying the most critical transportation- related challenges faced by households nationwide; ii) exploring its spatial distribution across provinces and between urban versus rural areas, and iii) determining the influence of socioeconomic and demographic factors on transport poverty and iv) identifying, policy interventions and implementation strategies that will be most effective in reducing transport poverty in the South African context. This research utilises the National Household Travel Survey 2020 data, adopting the Household Budget Survey framework, to develop and test alternative transport poverty matrices specific to South Africa. Multi-variate discrete choice modelling and a mixed logit model were computed to identify (extremely) vulnerable households and the factors that drive transport poverty. The findings reveal that transport poverty is a widespread issue in South Africa. Household income and transport expenditure, unsurprisingly, contribute significantly to transport poverty. Our findings challenge the assumption that access to motorised transport reduces transport poverty, highlighting the need for context-specific solutions. There is an urgent need for policy interventions to improve transport accessibility and social equity through increased investment in public transport, incentivisation of private sector involvement in PT service provision, and stringent measures to protect infrastructure.