Contribution of transport governance to socio-economic development in South Africa

Abstract

This paper discusses the contribution of transport governance to socio-economic development in South Africa. It is premised on the argument that transport governance is a higher, more complex and inclusive phenomenon than transport government. The paper begins by outlining the transport governance framework in South Africa with a view to highlighting inherent systemic strengths and weaknesses. It then unravels the legal, institutional and environmental basis upon which transport policy and practice occurs. This is followed by an analysis of transport governance gaps and ‘growing pains’, informed by local and international experience. The paper draws heavily from creative reviews of secondary data and interviews with key government and development agencies. The primary argument advanced in the paper is that enhanced transport governance does not only provide value-add to, but it could also be the lynchpin for a sustainable transport industry.