Public transport service as a means for socio-economic development in the South African rural areas

Abstract

Public transport service is an essential commodity that most citizens depend on it daily for social and economic well-being in rural areas. Lately, there has been an ongoing debate about the quality of public transport service and road infrastructures in the South African rural areas.  Consequently, the article aimed at examining the effects of public transport service on socio-economic development in rural areas. It is argued in this paper that quality public transport service can attract socio-economic development in rural areas. For instance; quality public transport service can attract mining and employment opportunities. Research design and methodology adopted in this study is qualitative. Furtherance, to validate the aim of this article, authors made use of the existing literature, journals and books, government documents, internet sources and practices of organisations were systematically reviewed and synthesised. The result of the article indicates there are more challenges faced by public transport service that undermine socio-economic development than the opportunities. However, the article concluded by making the recommendation that if public transport were to be improved, it could result in being a powerful influence on socio-economic development of the rural areas.

Keywords: Public Transport, Public transport service, Socio-economic development, Rural areas