JOHANNESBURG - Transport affordability is not just an inconvenience. It is a barrier to opportunity.
This is according to the latest IPSOS survey, conducted in June and July, which found that rising transport costs are preventing some people from accessing opportunities to improve their lives.
About 15 percent of people surveyed said they had missed school, university, college or work because they could not afford the transport costs.
“At first glance, 15 percent may not seem large, but when you project it to the population, it is almost seven million people,” said IPSOS’s Natalie Otte.
“Transport affordability is not a cost-of-living issue. For many South Africans, it’s a barrier to opportunity,” she said.
According to the study, the Free State is the most affected province, with residents reporting the greatest difficulty with transport costs.
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It is followed by the Northern Cape and Gauteng.
Otte says there are multiple reasons for the differences between provinces, including distances people have to travel, settlement patterns, employment opportunities and transport infrastructure.
“The picture is mixed across the country,” said Otte.