Covid-19 and the future of public transport in South Africa

Abstract

South Africa’s public transport has been (and continues to be) severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic – initially in terms of restrictions on operations, and lately, as we emerge from lockdown, in terms of reduced ridership that may be slow to recover. In this we mirror the experience in many other countries where transport operators are facing a severe struggle for survival. The last few months have taught us important lessons that, should we heed them, may help us to build back more robust and sustainable systems for the future.