Crumbling roads and rails put daily travel at risk for all

South Africa’s daily mobility is quietly under threat. The roads that carry commuters to work, the rail lines that move goods, and the airports that link regions to the rest of the country are deteriorating, and experts warn that ordinary citizens and businesses alike will pay the price if maintenance does not become a national priority.

Dr Olebogeng Baikgaki, an academic in transport economics at North-West University (NWU), cautions that deteriorating transport infrastructure could undermine economic growth, weaken trade and limit the country’s competitiveness. His message is ultimately about people: what happens when the systems connecting citizens to jobs, clinics, schools and markets stop working reliably.

“Transport is the heartbeat of the South African economy and plays a critical role in ensuring the effective functioning of all economic sectors,” he says. Transport connects workers to jobs, businesses to markets and communities to essential services. When those systems fail, the effects spread across the economy, disrupting supply chains and reducing productivity.

For rural communities, the consequences are among the most serious. Poor roads increase travel times, raise vehicle maintenance costs and create safety risks. They also make it harder for residents to reach hospitals, schools and employment opportunities. Dr Baikgaki says these challenges deepen the gap between urban and rural communities, particularly in provinces where road transport remains the main means of mobility. Poor maintenance also limits access to essential services, especially in rural provinces.

The problems reach well beyond rural roads. Small, medium and micro enterprises face particular difficulties because they depend on affordable transport to reach suppliers, customers and markets. When roads crumble and rail services become unreliable, transport costs rise and businesses struggle to operate efficiently. Consumers and communities ultimately feel those costs.

By contrast, Dr Baikgaki points to a concrete illustration of neglect in North West province, where two strategically important airports have suffered prolonged neglect and inadequate maintenance. In their poor condition, they represent missed opportunities for tourism, trade and regional development.

“Rehabilitating and revitalising the two airports in North West could improve regional accessibility, facilitate business and tourism activities, attract investment, support industrial development and strengthen the movement of people and goods,” he says.

His core argument is that South Africa must balance investment in new transport projects with the urgent need to repair ageing infrastructure. Despite continued spending on new developments, concerns keep growing about the condition of existing transport networks. Poor maintenance, he warns, increases business costs, discourages investment and limits access to essential services.

The remedy lies in a shift of priorities among those with a duty to serve the public. Maintaining existing infrastructure should become a priority for the government, municipalities and other stakeholders. Repairing roads, improving rail services and restoring neglected airports could strengthen regional economies while protecting public investments.

“Prioritising the maintenance and rehabilitation of existing transport infrastructure, alongside investment in new infrastructure, will strengthen economic productivity, unlock regional economic potential and support the broader objectives of inclusive economic growth and development in South Africa,” he says.

The stakes go beyond economics. Inclusive growth and development depend on systems that allow people to move, trade and reach services without unnecessary cost or risk. A country that lets its transport networks decay narrows its own economic opportunities, and its citizens bear the consequences in longer journeys, higher costs and reduced access to the services they rely on.

Dr Baikgaki’s message is clear: South Africa’s transport future depends not only on building new infrastructure but also on protecting what already exists. For the public, that protection is not an abstract policy question. It is a matter of everyday access, safety and opportunity, and the question now is whether maintenance will be treated as a national priority before the country’s networks decay further.