News
Red light for congestion
South Africa’s new affluent emerging middle classes are thought to be partly responsible for the surge in traffic levels in Johannesburg
According to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa, in 2005 vehicle sales climbed 26 per cent to nearly 565,000, without taking into account the number of imported vehicles arriving in South Africa each month.
The first quarter of 2006 has also seen sales rise by around 18 per cent, despite initial predictions of a slow down in growth. Since 2004 an estimated extra 1.2 million more vehicles have set out on South Africa's roads, reflecting the low interest rates and job creation that has meant more and more South Africans can afford to buy vehicles.
But there is a negative affect on the environment and city roads. In provinces such as Gauteng, the addition of more cars, bikes and lorries on the already congested roads has led to member of the Gauteng executive council for transport, Ignatius Jacobs, putting forward suggestions of toll roads and cheaper rates for buses and taxis on major roads to reduce congestion and road maintenance in his budget speech in July. The debate over solving congestion in the major cities coincides with rumours of a possible fuel shortage in South Africa due to routine maintenance shutdowns, as well as threats from workers in the fuel industry of planned strikes over failed wage negotiations.
Prices are still cheaper than in the UK, however, with unleaded petrol currently costing ZAR6.73 (51 pence) a litre.
Register for your FREE emigration starter pack
18 December 2006