There was a time when passengers could board a train in Johannesburg, travel through Krugersdorp, Magaliesburg and Zeerust, pass through Mahikeng, Madibogo, Mareetsane and Taung, and continue towards Kimberley before making the return journey. Those trains are gone. So too are many of the rail services that once connected communities, supported local economies and provided an affordable alternative to South Africa’s roads.
Today, much of the country’s public transport infrastructure is either struggling, deteriorating or missing altogether. Roads are congested, passenger rail has largely disappeared except on a handful of routes, and commuters increasingly rely on private vehicles, including 7-seaters and 4+1 sedans, as well as buses and minibus taxis to fill the gap.
According to North-West University (NWU) transport economics expert Dr Olebogeng Baikgaki, rebuilding public transport is possible, but only if South Africa focuses on the basics.
“The infrastructure is in tatters,” he says. “We need to get the infrastructure correct first. That is where we have to start.”
For Dr Baikgaki, the resurrection of South Africa’s public transport system begins with rebuilding and prioritising transport infrastructure. He argues that public transport should be given preference over private vehicles through dedicated lanes and improved transport planning.
“We need delegated lanes for public transport throughout the country so that we ensure that public transport gets a preference compared to private vehicles,” he says.
Such a shift would not only improve mobility but also reduce congestion and lower the cost of maintaining roads.
“Instead of using four-seater vehicles, at least we are having one 65-seater. It will assist us.”
Safety and security must also form part of the solution. Public transport can only thrive if commuters feel safe using it.
Yet perhaps nowhere is South Africa’s transport decline more visible than in the collapse of passenger rail.
“We used to have the passenger rail that was coming from Johannesburg through Magaliesburg, Zeerust, Mahikeng, Madibogo and Taung up to Kimberley and back, and people were enjoying that.”
Attempts to revive some of these services demonstrated that public demand still exists.
“After conducting a feasibility study on the reintroduction of passenger rail services, the North West Department of Transport and PRASA tested the market by introducing the train twice, and people were happy. The train was full to the brim.”
For him, the lesson is clear.
“The more we delay, the more we are killing the market. People are just going to use the seven-seaters, four-seaters and all those.”
While South Africa’s rail network requires significant investment, Dr Baikgaki believes the country can no longer afford to postpone action.
However, funding remains one of the greatest obstacles.
“Government does not have money,” he says.
His solution is the greater use of public-private partnerships (PPPs).
“There are people who are willing to invest in rail transport, but it is not happening.”
Under such arrangements, government would retain ownership of public infrastructure while allowing private investors to assist with financing, maintenance and operations.
“The public assets and public infrastructure remain owned by the government. The control will still be there.”
Dr Baikgaki points to the Bakwena toll road concession as an example of how government and private investors can work together successfully.
The benefits would extend well beyond transport itself.
“The scheduled passenger flight between Pilanesberg International Airport and Cape Town International Airport was always full. It shows that people want to come and see Sun City.”
Efficient transport networks make regions more attractive to investors, tourists and businesses.
“If tourists start seeing South African products and buying them, that will also nurture the economy.”
Conversely, poor infrastructure drives investment away.
“If we don’t have good infrastructure, investors are going to leave.”
Dr Baikgaki believes South Africa can learn valuable lessons from countries that have successfully transformed their transport systems.
“The Chinese can do certain things that we are not able to do.”
He also cites Singapore and parts of Europe, where reliable and affordable public transport has reduced dependence on private vehicles.
“In the Czech Republic, it is rare to find a private vehicle on the road. They managed to remove private cars from the road because public transport there is good.”
Infrastructure maintenance is another lesson.
“If there’s a pothole, they identify it and fix it.”
Yet for all the discussion around infrastructure, funding and technology, Dr Baikgaki believes the country’s biggest challenge may be political rather than technical.
“We are always having good policies, good plans, good programmes, good strategies, but we fail to implement.”
He argues that long-term projects are too often disrupted by political transitions and competing agendas.
“Whoever comes wants to start his or her own thing. There’s no continuity. That lack of continuity is killing us as a nation.”
Ultimately, he believes South Africa already knows what needs to be done.
“We need to revamp the current infrastructure that we have. We have to come up with alternative modes of transport for our people to enjoy.”
His final message is simple.
“We must ensure that public transport is safe, we provide better security, and also make it a point that public transport is affordable to users.”
South Africa’s transport crisis is not irreversible. Passenger trains once connected communities across vast distances, airports linked regions, and public transport offered genuine mobility and opportunity. Rebuilding that system will require investment, political will and long-term thinking, but as Dr Baikgaki makes clear, the challenge is not knowing what to do. The challenge is finally doing it.
