Infrastructures

Metropolitan transport advisory boards govern urban areas which have been declared metropolitan transport areas. Both short- and long-term programmes for adequate transport development are drawn up by the core city of each area and are revised and adjusted annually. Nine such core areas (metropolitan municipalities) exist, namely Johannesburg, Cape Town, Tshwane (Pretoria), eThekwini (Durban), Msunduzi (Pietermaritzburg), Nelson Mandela (Port Elizabeth), Ekurhuleni (East Rand), Bloemfontein and Buffalo City (East London).

The planning of transport for metropolitan and major urban areas is done in accordance with growth-management plans with the specific objective of ensuring that travel modes do not compete with one another. In urban areas, passenger road transport services are provided by local government, private bus companies operating scheduled bus services between peripheral areas and city centres, and minibus taxis.

The South African Department of Transport supports provincial departments of transport and public works in the construction of intermodal facilities and in their efforts to achieve integration between bus and taxi operations. Many of the public transport facilities are not in good condition, although there are excellent facilities in most of the main centres mentioned above. The taxi recapitalisation project also requires most of the formal intermodal facilities to be upgraded to accommodate the new taxi vehicles.

South Africa has excellent roads by international standards, but many roads are in need of considerable maintenance and selected expansion. The main road network was substantially established some 20 years ago. Since then, a lack of funding has caused a significant slowdown of the implementation of the strategic road network plan that had been in place. The focus in recent years on social and health issues has however again highlighted the importance of infrastructure for socio-economic development and funding levels are being elevated to meet development demands.

With the prospect of the 2010 World Cup, specific attention is also being given to the needs that directly support the 2010 World Cup events. The framework plan is being put in place that will include the sectors planning to anticipate the major changes and improvements foreseen in local transport management (including the implementation of Travel Demand Management (TDM) measures) and substantial improvements and investment in public transport infrastructure.

A major development in the country is the Gautrain Rapid Rail Link, a state-of-the-art rapid rail network planned in Gauteng. The rail connection comprises two links, namely a link between Tshwane (Pretoria) and Johannesburg and a link between Johannesburg International Airport (JIA) and Sandton (a suburb of Johannesburg). Apart from the three anchor stations on these two links, seven other stations will be linked by approximately 80 kilometres of rail along the proposed route.

This modern train will offer international standards of public transport with high levels of safety, reliability, predictability and comfort.  Travelling at maximum speeds of 160-180 km per hour, it will reach Tshwane from Johannesburg in less than 40 minutes. The Gautrain is planned to be in operation by 2010.

With regard to rail infrastructure, low funding levels in capital investment over the past years has resulted in this important element of the transport system not functioning optimally for the delivery of goods and servicing travel demands, and thus not contributing to positive socio-economic returns for the country. South Africa has a fairly extensive rail network and initiatives are underway to to re-establish a rail network that is efficient, sustainable and better able to compete with road transport, and which enhances export competitiveness. Investment in rail infrastructure is a major priority, since the backlog with regard to commuter rail infrastructure has escalated to an alarming extent and should be addressed adequately within the medium term to avoid serious consequences.