South Africa’s transport challenges demand a holistic, long-term approach that integrates planning, technical expertise and governance across all levels of government, says industry body Consulting Engineers South Africa (Cesa).

CEO Chris Campbell elaborates that public transport systems such as Rea Vaya and MyCiTi, which were inspired by successful international models including Brazil’s Curitiba and Peru’s Lima Metro Line 2, have made progress but still face significant hurdles.

“High operating costs, heavy government subsidies and limited integration with informal modes such as minibus taxis and ride-sharing services reduce their overall impact. These global examples demonstrate the value of integrated route planning, unified fare systems and transit-oriented development – lessons South Africa can adopt to enhance local systems,” he says.

For Campbell, building a truly integrated transport system requires seamless coordination between national, provincial and local governments, however, this is lacking in the country.

Cesa advocates for policymakers promoting compliance with road rules and enforcement of informal transport protocols, to realise a truly integrated system.

Moreover, Cesa has long advocated for collaborative approaches, recognising that siloed operations hinder innovation, efficiency and sustainable progress.

The crucial learning from countries with successful integrated systems is that this involves thorough prefeasibility assessments, planning for actual demand and ridership, managing competition between modes and creating unified ticketing that ensures convenience and affordability for users.

|Achieving this requires political and institutional continuity to follow through on well-designed plans,” Campbell states.

In this regard, industry bodies such as Cesa play a role in advocating for long-term infrastructure policy and sustainability.

“Sustained advocacy ensures that well-designed plans are implemented, benefiting both citizens and the economy. We cannot overemphasise the value of cross-government collaboration, policy stability, and practical solutions for integrating formal and informal transport modes, fare systems, and long-term planning,” Campbell explains.

He says many of South Africa’s transport challenges stem from short-term political focus and frequent leadership turnover, adding that policies often remain words on paper without resources, accountability or follow-through.

“Projects require consistent support to avoid disruption with every change in political leadership.

“A culture of delivery, continuous improvement and stable governance is essential.”

To realise transport systems that truly connect people and places, government and industry ultimately need to pursue a long-term vision and demonstrate commitment.

“We firmly believe the decisions we make now will shape how we move, live and grow for decades to come. Bold thinking, partnerships and commitment to follow-through are therefore needed to build a safer, more integrated transport future,” Campbell concludes.