Public Transport and Safety Symposium

Marike Keller, Policy Development and Advocacy Specialist at Sonke Gender Justice, welcomed the participants and provided an overview of the necessity for a symposium bringing stakeholders from the transport and human rights sectors together.

Public transport is an essential part of everyday life for many South Africans. According to a 2013 National Household Travel Survey, nearly 40% of workers used public transport as their main mode of travel to work – the total number of public transport trips per weekday to go to work is estimated at 5,4 million, with 68% of these being public transport trips made by taxi, 20% by bus, and 13% by train.