On 24 October 2022, the Gauteng MEC for Roads, Transport and Logistics, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela received the latest results of the Covid-19 Gauteng Household Travel Survey (GHTS) from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

The survey was commissioned by the department as part of fulfilling its legislative mandate, which requires the province to continuously monitor and evaluate its transport system. The Covid-19 GHTS carried out a supplementary survey to measure the extent to which travel behaviour changed during the different Covid-19 alert levels and, in so doing, projected future trends in the industry. The objective was to generate findings that guide, improve and innovate strategic transport planning in the province.

The survey sampled 4 000 households spread throughout the metropolitan and district municipalities of the province. The survey resulted in a weighted total of 4 951 138 households in Gauteng

The findings of the survey concluded that people would revert to pre-Covid-19 travel patterns for work, education, shopping and medical purposes. Two years later, this is solidified by rising daily traffic volumes on selected freeways in Gauteng, restoring petrol consumption to pre-Covid-19 sales. The most predominant modes of travel for medical purposes, both before and during Covid-19, were cars, as the driver (34% before and 33% during) and walking all the way (30% both before and during).

Most respondents indicated that they were unlikely to change their working, education and shopping arrangements from the pre-Covid-19 era. Indications are that private transportation will continue to be used as the main mode of transport for all purposes in the future. People in different living standard groupings (low, medium, high) are not expected to experience any significant changes in their work travel patterns. The most predominant modes of travel for shopping, both before and during Covid-19, were cars as the driver and commuter taxi/minibus taxi – accounting for 83% of shopping trips.

The report also shows that about 57% of all those interviewed indicated that they were unlikely to work from home (WFH) fulltime in the future, while 36% anticipated to WFH fulltime. About 7% indicated that they were unsure whether they would continue to WFH fulltime in the future.

Speaking at the handover ceremony in Pretoria, MEC Diale-Tlabela said that the provincial government will continue to work with local government bodies to ensure that the results of the survey inform their responsibilities as planning authorities.

“Through investing in surveys such as this one, the province fulfills its constitutional mandate of ensuring that local government works as it should. We applaud the CSIR for its hard work and providing our department with fact-based research that is essential to the province’s future transportation system planning,” she said.

The MEC added that a large proportion of the population remains very vulnerable to system shocks. “Consequently, government needs to use the results of the survey to ensure that public transport is appropriately financed.”

Handing over the report, CSIR Group Executive: Smart Society Dr Sandile Malinga said that the CSIR seeks to improve the efficiency, safety, cost-effectiveness and reliability of transport networks to minimise the cost of doing business and improve the quality of life.

“We appreciate the opportunity that we have been given by the provincial department. The CSIR is increasingly becoming the partner of choice for providing research, development and innovation solutions to other state-owned entities, government departments and municipalities, in line with our mandate,” said Dr Malinga.

He expressed his gratitude towards the GDRT for the support and said that the organisation looks forward to continuing to work with the department for the betterment of the lives of South Africans.

NB: Please click here for a full report.

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Issued by the GDRT and the CSIR

For enquiries, contact:

GDRT Spokesperson: Lesiba Mpya
Email: PressOffice.gpdrt@gauteng.gov.za

OR

David Mandaha: CSIR Media Relations Manager
Mobile: 072 126 8910
Email: dmandaha@csir.co.za