The transport infrastructure investment has been a subject of many studies for some time, mainly in improving and predicting the economic growth of the country and improving employment in South Africa. Given this, the study examines the impact of transport infrastructure investment on unemployment in South Africa by using time series econometric analysis over the period 1982-2012. Some key variables considered include unemployment, real GDP, real exchange rate, real interest rate, and trade openness total infrastructure investment exclude transport infrastructure investment. To separate the long and short run effect, VECM was employed after ensuring stationarity of the series. The study found that a long run relationship exist between the unemployment, transport infrastructure investment, real GDP, real exchange rate , real interest rate, trade openness and total infrastructure investment exclude transport infrastructure investment. The Results of this thesis have implications for policy and academic work.

M.Phil. / Considerable research on public policymaking has been carried out over the years. A number of theoretical frameworks have been developed to try to understand the complexities of the policy process. Nevertheless, the implementation of policy remains, as deLeon and deLeon (2001) state “the most devilish of wicked problems”. It is this wicked problem that this thesis attempts to comprehend a little better in the context of public transport. There is a broadly expressed belief in South Africa that while we have developed some fairly robust public transport policies, we fall down when it comes to the implementation of these policies. However, policies are not equally complex in nature and surely therefore not equally demanding in implementation. While it is accepted that a number of political, economic and social factors are necessary for policy implementation, it is nevertheless hypothesised that the nature and complexity of a policy will influence the paradigm within which implementation will take place. Furthermore, the ‘success’ of the implementation process needs to be located within the context of the specific implementation paradigm. The objective of this thesis has been to (i) identify and (ii) apply an appropriate policy implementation framework or model to the implementation of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) programme in South Africa to understand the BRT policy implementation process that has emerged thus far and whether its very nature and characteristics place it within a certain policy implementation paradigm.

M.Com. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Ing. (Transportation) / This reseach focused on a quick response transportation planning software package called QRS II which was developed by A J Horowitz at the Centre for Urban Transportation Studies, University of Wisconsin, United states of America. The programme achieves its quick response by incorporating, inter alia, a large number of default parameters within its formulation. Several of these parameters define the typical travel characteristics of the population within a study area and as such, suggest a particular socioeconomic, political, cultural and behavioral profile as existing in that area. These typical conditions may be representative of the behavior in many areas in the United States but may not adequately reflect conditions beyond that. This study has set out to determine whether the default parameters used in QRS II are different to those that would be appropriate in Black towns in areas such as the East Rand Metropolitan Transport Area (ORMET) in South Africa. Local parameter values were identified and compared with the default values in QRS II. It was found that these values were significantly different. More research is required before QRS II can be considered fully adapted to conditions in Black urban areas within a Metropolitan area such as ORMET. However, the new values suggested in this study will go a long way to improving the appropriateness of QRS II applications in South Africa.

M.Phil. / While it is true that urban transport is a function of land use, it is equally true that land use is a function of urban transport. Any change in urban transport facilities changes the relative accessibility and hence the relative attraction of various land uses of every piece of land in a given area. Blumenfeld (1972, p. 140) feels that: "Transportation planning and city planning are not two different things but two sides of the same coin". According to several international sources the physical-spatial interrelation of urban transport and land use are totally ignored during the planning process. The short-term measures which have dominated urban transportation and land use planning have failed to appreciate long-term negative side-effects which, at later points in time, are perceived as current problems and again tackled with short-term solutions. This indicates a vicious circle which can only be broken if planners resolve to develop urban transport policies which are designed to reinforce desirable land use and development policies. In the long term it ls-the accessibility engendered by transport facilities which determine changes in the distribution of land use. Unfortunately in South Africa urban transport and land use planning appear to be concerned only with current perceptions of the transportation/land use problem such as congestion, delay, safety, movement, zoning and bulk regulations. Cameron (1977, p, 6) is of the following opinion: "Sadly the Driessen Report in South Africa has resulted in a transportation planning Act which, while appearing to offer scope for integrated planning, is being widely interpreted as a means to solve current problems, rather than as a means to really plan for the future". The object of this study is an attempt to determine within the physical-spatial dimension the interrelation of urban transport and land use with reference to Alberton. The methodology followed consists of a theoretical analysis of urban transportation and land use throughout the world. Thereafter the study area is described in order to marry the theory with the practice. An empirical investigation into the components of an urban structure, i.e, residential, industrial, business, administrative, open spaces and the transportation network, is followed by an analysis of the gathered information by means of a computer.

M.Com. / The per capita consumption of fresh milk, a product of one of the primary production sectors in the developing economy of South Africa, namely agriculture, has declined from 61,1 kg in October 1962 to 32,0 kg in September 1983. During the period July 1973 to June 1984, the total volume of fresh milksold has declined by approximately 4 percent. A major contributing factor in this regard is the 26 percent decrease in the share of the door-to-door delivery operation during the same period. In addition, cost spirals, inflation and price regulation had a significant impact on the profit margin of the door-to-door delivery operation. These factors necessitate a review of alternatives which will improve the economy of the delivery operation whilst maintaining an acceptable level of customer service. In order to optimise the interrelationship between cost and customer service, important managerial and operational aspects of the existing door-to-door delivery . operation have been identified. Suggestions in this regard are based on the most widely acceptable theories in physical distribution, as well as consumer preferences which have been obtained by means of a questjonnaire distributed to a representative sample of the East Rand population. It was found that irrespective of the method which may be considered to economise the door-to-door delivery operation, the application of the physical distribution concept, in terms of organisational structure and cost accounting, will enhance the effectiveness and influence the success of implementation. It was found that physical distribution functions, and specifically order placing and processing, storage, despatch, returns, transport and production forecasting should be allocated to the distribution department. Due to the interrelationships that exist within and between the above functions which form part of the physical distribution system, the application of the total cost approach is necessary. The present method and procedure of traditional cost accounting and cost allocation are insufficient when evaluating the possible effect of implementing measures which may result in improved economy on the door-to-door delivery operation. In studying available literature, it was determined that alternatives which may economise the delivery operation, can be categorised as follows: -Methods to increase volumes, and -methods to reduce costs. Volumes can be increased by increasing the number of households to which fresh milk is delivered from door to door. However, consumers consider security of money and delivered product (24,1 percent), reliability of the delivery service (21,5 percent) and inconvenient times of delivery (22,9 percent) as the three most important reasons for not making use of the service. Convenience (41,7 percent) and price aspects (24,7 percent) have been found the two most important factors why consumers obtain fresh milk by means of the door-to-door delivery operation. Of the total number of consumers who normally buy their fresh milk requirements from cafes and supermarkets, approximately 52 percent indicated that they will make use of the delivery service provided reliability and more convenient times of delivery are ensured. It was found that by introducing a wider product range, packaging sizes will not have a significant impact on the volumes per point of sale as fresh orange (50,9 percent) and guava juice (27,8 percent) is preferred in one litre glass bottles. The above products are at present obtainable from the door-to-door delivery service. With regard to methods that may reduce physical distribution costs, 70,7 percent of the consumers indicated they will discontinue the delivery service if products were to be delivered at central points only. It was found that delivery vehicles are utilised for 6,7 hours (36 percent) per day and significant savings in fixed vehicle costs (35 percent) can be achieved by introducing two vehicle shifts (re-scheduling). Of the total number of consumers who normally obtain fresh milk by means of the door-to-door delivery operation, 91,8 percent indicated they will continue with the service even if delivery is only effected in the late afternoon.

South Africa is a signatory to several agreements dealing with sustainable development. South Africa has also committed to meeting several Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). One of the biggest challenges facing South Africa, like many other countries, is to maintain a balance between the quest for economic growth and sustainable development. In pursuing economic success, it is often the case that insufficient time and effort are dedicated to determining whether the planned developments support sustainability principles. In some instances, developments may meet one or two sustainability principles whilst violating a number of others, potentially leading to undesirable social, economic or environmental consequences. Countries ought to ensure that projects they approve for development at local, provincial or national level are subjected to thorough scrutiny to ascertain that there is minimal violation of sustainable development principles. The development of the MyCiTi bus transport system in the City of Cape Town was assessed for its consideration of sustainable development principles during the implementation of the project. Several users and non-users of MyCiTi were interviewed regarding their experience and observation of MyCiTi’s development and roll-out relative to sustainable development principles. The results obtained are discussed in this study and the appropriate recommendations given.

Since the mid 70’s politicians have realized how important transport has become in the economy of South Africa and the advantages it has on growth, job creation and infrastructure. The result was involvement in the rules and regulations that govern South African transport in our country today. Economic growth has become a critical factor for the survival of economies as well as the future prospects of generations to come. The global recession which had a direct and indirect effect on South Africa has highlighted the importance. The question on how the National Development Plan could have an influence on local and national economic growth has developed as well as what the impact will be of the contribution road transport can make on the growth of the South African society and the economy. When the current road transport sector is taken into consideration, the need for a constructive plan that can assist transporters, drivers and businesses to grow and expand has been identified. The purpose of this study is thus to determine what the current economic situation in the world and in South Africa is as well as how the current political spheres are contributing to the national economy. An in-depth analysis of the National Development Plan has been done with emphasis on the effect on transport in general and the effect on road transport in South Africa. In order to accomplish this objective a detailed literature study was done which highlighted the academics information that pertains to the above mentioned topics. An empirical study that would measure the thought process and feelings about the National Development Plan and road transport has been conducted by means of a questionnaire. The results of the study have indicated that the National Development Plan could be an important tool and could have an enormous positive effect on the overall economic situation of South Africa and its citizens. In addition, the study has revealed that in the long term the effect of the plan could be to the advantage of the road transport sector. Factors that could contribute to the success would be features such as the planned improvements on the main transport corridors, upgrade of infrastructure and the controlling of environmental matters would have give a positive ring to it. On the other hand, recommendations to rectify and improve other issues such as corruption, leadership, maintenance backlogs and stricter laws and policies have been identified that are hindering businesses to grow and expand. Literature and data gained through the empirical study has indicated that the National Development Plan will improve South Africa’s economic situation. Respondents were optimistic about the plan and the overall feeling were that the plan will succeed in improving the road transport sector thus contribute to the National Development Plan objective to eliminate poverty and inequality by 2030.

The study focused on the taxi industry as a services industry due to its contribution to the economies of both developed and the developing countries. The purpose of this study was to investigate ways to improve service delivery in the South African taxi industry. This industry is one of the underperforming industries in South Africa with regard to service quality due to over-serviced taxi routes and a lack of information about the needs and desires of the taxi commuters. The primary objective of this study was to investigate how to improve the service quality of taxi operators in the Nelson Mandela Bay by applying theories and concepts of services marketing and total quality management (TQM). More specifically, the study investigated whether taxi drivers have the required knowledge of services marketing and service quality, and what service quality challenges taxi drivers and commuters face. The sample consisted of 20 taxi drivers and 101 student commuters using taxis on the Port Elizabeth routes. The empirical results showed that taxi drivers perform unsatisfactorily on the four TQM elements: leadership, employee involvement, product/ process excellence and customer focus. The results also reflected the general perception in the Eastern Cape that taxi service quality is poor. Of the five service quality dimensions (tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance and empathy), the taxi drivers performed the best in reliability and the worst in empathy. The empirical results further suggested that taxi services do not meet the expectations of commuters, as deficits were reported between expectations and perceptions of actual service quality. The different quality dimensions used in the measurement of taxi service quality and their empirical results could provide a guideline to taxi service leadership and government on the critical aspects of taxi service quality.

Persistent government budget deficits and government debt have become major concerns in both developed and developing countries. This study investigates the impact of a budget deficit on transport infrastructure investment in South Africa. Quarterly time series data, covering the period 1990q1- 2009q4, was used in this project. The study tests for stationarity using the Augmented Dickey- Fuller and Phillips Perron; it tests for cointegration using the Johansen (1991, 1995) methodology. A vector error correction model is used as an estimation technique. The results of this study show that a budget deficit has a negative impact on transport infrastructure investment in South Africa.