A policy analysis study as input into the effective implementation of facets of the national development plan

Abstract

Paper presented at the 33rd Annual Southern African Transport Conference 7-10 July 2014 "Leading Transport into the Future", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa.

Transport, including good roads is an important catalyst in the social and economic development of any country. The National Development Plan (NDP) which has the objective of fostering economic growth in the country will not fully succeed in meeting its aims without effective and efficient implementation of inter-alia the road and transport policy and planning facets of the plan. Transport plans and programmes flow out of and are the manifestation of transport policy. This paper examines the extent to which policy for two important but diverse facets of the transport system in South Africa has had an impact on the problems and issues facing the two sectors in the face of many significant and complex challenges, as an input to the NDP transport programme implementation. The broad findings of an analysis of the issues concerned is presented, the contributory factors relevant to the success or otherwise of the policy implementation of the transport facets are analysed and suggested recommendations to improve implementation of transport policy and planning in the country are made. These findings could be beneficial to the effective implementation of the NDP transport programme.