Transport and Driving in South Africa
One of the most obvious reminders to expats that South Africa is still in a state of development is the lack of infrastructure surrounding public transportation. It’s absolutely necessary to have a car in the country as few other options exist to get from point A to point B, and those that do, are mainly methods of informal transportation that tend to be unsafe as well as inefficient.
Expats must also be warned to be wary on the roads even in their own vehicles. South Africa has an incredibly high road fatality rate even though it has a relatively low statistic of cars per capita. This is largely due to an exceptional number of unlicensed drivers and un-roadworthy vehicles. Always drive defensively and be aware of what’s happening around you.
Driving in South Africa is done on the left-hand side of the road.
Buying and licensing cars is an easy process, but prices can be quite high. As an example, a BMW 3 series 2006 model sells for around ZAR 150,000 used/ZAR 280,000 new.
Meter taxis are available, but can become expensive if travelling more than 5 miles (roughly 8 km) in distance.
The South African government has recently introduced an initiative to improve the public transport sector, but as it’s only in its beginning stages it has yet to be proven successful or reliable. The initiative, known as the integrated rapid transit system, aims to integrate Metrorail services, road-based services on trunk routes, conventional bus services, minibus taxi integration, feeder bus services, improved pedestrian and bicycle access, metered taxi integration, and park-and-ride facilities in the main city centres of South Africa.
For those feeling brave, or rather brazen, the minibus taxis, trains and buses are the preferred methods of public transportation by the masses.
The trains and buses are recognised by the state as formal methods of transportation, but are organised and owned by private companies. The buses tend to be slow and the routes round about. The trains, though much quicker, only provide access to/from choice destinations, and timetables aren’t necessarily adhered to.
The minibus taxi is an informal method of transportation owned and organised by corrupt collectives who are constantly at odds with the government. Though these are by far the most efficient and the cheapest method of transportation across South Africa, the vehicles are often unsafe, the drivers unlicensed and uninsured, and the attitudes of those involved have little respect for traffic safety considerations.
Driving in South Africa
Expats must also be warned to be wary on the roads even in their own vehicles. South Africa has an incredibly high road fatality rate even though it has a relatively low statistic of cars per capita. This is largely due to an exceptional number of unlicensed drivers and un-roadworthy vehicles. Always drive defensively and be aware of what’s happening around you.
Driving in South Africa is done on the left-hand side of the road.
Buying and licensing cars is an easy process, but prices can be quite high. As an example, a BMW 3 series 2006 model sells for around ZAR 150,000 used/ZAR 280,000 new.
Meter taxis are available, but can become expensive if travelling more than 5 miles (roughly 8 km) in distance.
Public Transport in South Africa
The South African government has recently introduced an initiative to improve the public transport sector, but as it’s only in its beginning stages it has yet to be proven successful or reliable. The initiative, known as the integrated rapid transit system, aims to integrate Metrorail services, road-based services on trunk routes, conventional bus services, minibus taxi integration, feeder bus services, improved pedestrian and bicycle access, metered taxi integration, and park-and-ride facilities in the main city centres of South Africa.
For those feeling brave, or rather brazen, the minibus taxis, trains and buses are the preferred methods of public transportation by the masses.
The trains and buses are recognised by the state as formal methods of transportation, but are organised and owned by private companies. The buses tend to be slow and the routes round about. The trains, though much quicker, only provide access to/from choice destinations, and timetables aren’t necessarily adhered to.
The minibus taxi is an informal method of transportation owned and organised by corrupt collectives who are constantly at odds with the government. Though these are by far the most efficient and the cheapest method of transportation across South Africa, the vehicles are often unsafe, the drivers unlicensed and uninsured, and the attitudes of those involved have little respect for traffic safety considerations.
