South Africa’s Transport Month this October puts renewed focus on the role that transport plays in economic growth and social development. For businesses, that conversation extends beyond infrastructure and the movement of goods. It also includes the daily movement of the people who keep operations running.

Reliable passenger transport is essential to workforce mobility and business continuity. In industries that operate in shifts or around the clock, dependable transport can influence attendance, shift readiness and production continuity. Yet the movement of people is often overlooked as part of supply-chain resilience.

Unitrans passenger operations provides employee transport, commuter services and managed solutions across multiple sectors, moving people early in the morning, late at night and over long distances to mining, agricultural and other operational sites.

“Transport is not just about mobility. It is a lifeline to work, income and essential services,” says Bazil Govender, Divisional Head: Business Development at Unitrans passenger operations. “It connects people to livelihoods, education, healthcare and economic opportunity, while supporting the continuity of local businesses.”

Transport Month provides a timely opportunity to consider this wider role: how safe, reliable and well-managed mobility supports not only individual journeys, but the businesses, communities and local economies that depend on them.

Safety Beyond Compliance

Research published by the Road Traffic Management Corporation in March 2025 recorded 146 fatalities in major long-distance bus crashes during 2024, the highest annual figure in its 2018–2024 dataset. The findings reinforce the need for continued attention to passenger transport safety.

At Unitrans, safety extends beyond compliance.

“Policies and procedures are essential, but safety ultimately depends on people making responsible decisions every day,” Govender says. “That includes the driver behind the wheel, the team planning the route, the customer setting operational expectations and every person sharing the road.”

Safety must therefore inform each stage of how a journey is planned and delivered.

Drivers contribute through vigilance, professionalism and care. Operations teams consider routes, schedules, vehicle readiness and local conditions. Customers help uphold standards, while passengers, communities and other road users influence the broader road environment.

This shared responsibility requires consistent attention to behaviour, accountability and continuous improvement. Safety must be embedded in organisational culture rather than treated as a checklist addressed only during a campaign or event.

What Makes a Connected Community?

The Unitrans passenger operations team sees first-hand how safe, reliable mobility supports people, businesses and the supply chains that depend on them.

Behind every journey is a coordinated network of drivers, planners, fleet teams, operational processes and relationships with customers and communities. When one part of that network fails, the impact can extend beyond a delayed trip to affect employee attendance, production schedules, family responsibilities and access to essential services.

“In a South African context, a connected community is one where mobility is reliable, safe and inclusive, and becomes an enabler of economic resilience, business continuity and social progress,” says Nothando Sibiya, Business Development Manager at Unitrans passenger operations.

“It requires businesses to see transport as more than simply moving people from one place to another. Transport providers need to understand the communities and environments in which they operate, engage meaningfully with local stakeholders and respond to the realities of each route and region.”

Connected communities are therefore supported not only by infrastructure, but by strong relationships, accountable systems and collaboration among businesses, customers, passengers, communities, road users and public stakeholders.

The Human Impact of Transport

A practical example emerged through ongoing engagement between the regional management team at a Unitrans operation in Secunda and members of the surrounding community.

Through these conversations, the team became aware that transport challenges were affecting some children’s ability to attend school consistently. Working with community representatives, the team helped put a transport arrangement in place to improve access to education.

The response was rooted in a clearly identified local need and made use of existing transport capabilities to address a practical barrier.

By improving learners’ ability to reach school, the arrangement demonstrated how listening, collaboration and targeted action can make a meaningful difference to people’s everyday lives.

It also reflects Govender’s view that meaningful community contributions should be continuous rather than once-off, practical rather than symbolic, and shaped by local realities.

Moving People, Supporting Progress

Passenger transport cannot solve every economic or social challenge, and responsibility for building safer, more connected communities does not rest with transport providers alone.

It requires commitment from businesses, customers, employees, communities, road users and public stakeholders. Trust, communication and ongoing engagement are as important as the physical infrastructure connecting people.

When employees can reach their workplaces consistently and safely, businesses are better positioned to maintain operations and protect productivity. When communities have dependable access to employment, education, healthcare and essential services, people are better able to participate in economic and social opportunities.

The result is a stronger connection between people, operational continuity and supply-chain resilience – and a reminder during Transport Month that the value of transport is ultimately measured by what it enables.

“Purposeful transport is not simply about reaching a destination,” Govender concludes. “It is about enabling opportunity, strengthening relationships and helping to create the conditions in which people, communities and businesses can progress.”

Source note: Department of Transport, October Transport Month 2026.

Road Traffic Management Corporation, The Role of Seatbelts in Preventing Fatalities and Serious Injuries in Long Distance Bus Crashes in South Africa, March 2025. The study’s 2024 dataset was extracted on 2 December 2024 and covers records up to 1 December 2024

South Africa’s future is being built by skilled young hands, and technical excellence deserves the same celebration as academic success.

This was the message at the 2026 National Skills Final Competition Awards Ceremony in Johannesburg yesterday, where the country’s emerging technical talent took centre stage.

The Sasol Foundation, in partnership with Kagiso Trust, the Department of Basic Education, government and industry stakeholders, celebrated the achievements of the finalists at an evening attended by Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube, senior government and education representatives, industry leaders, educators and partners.

The national final brought together 151 learners and 77 teachers from all nine provinces who reached the 2026 national final, celebrating their achievements after more than 17,000 learners participated in qualifying rounds across the country.

Over the previous two days, Grade 10 and 11 learners and teachers competed in 11 practical, industry-relevant disciplines, putting their technical knowledge, precision, creativity, problem-solving ability and practical application of skills to the test.

“There should be no hierarchy of dignity between these pathways. A country needs doctors and engineers. But it also needs artisans, technicians, electricians, welders, fitters, machinists, mechanics, plumbers, builders and skilled operators. These skills are not second-tier careers. They are essential careers,” said Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube.

Category winners were awarded cash vouchers, tools of the trade and online courses and one lucky winner, Simthandile Mkwanazi in the Construction category was awarded a R250 000 apprenticeship from Resolution Circle. 

Building a Skills Pipeline From School

For South Africa, the importance of developing these skills extends well beyond a two-day competition.

As the world of work changes through technological innovation, digitalisation, industrialisation and the transition to a greener economy, so too does the range of skills young people need to participate meaningfully in it. The challenge is not simply to create opportunities, but to ensure that young people are equipped to take advantage of them.

Building that capability needs to start early.

The National Skills Competition provides a practical example of what this can look like: identifying technical talent at school level, giving young people opportunities to test themselves against real-world challenges, exposing them to industry and creating greater visibility around technical and vocational pathways.

South Africa needs to continue rebuilding its technical skills pipeline – not as a short-term programme, but as a sustained pathway that starts at school and connects education with further learning, apprenticeships, entrepreneurship and employment.

“The competition provides young people with an opportunity to demonstrate what happens when knowledge meets practice,” said Minister Gwarube. “A textbook can explain a principle. A classroom can teach a process. But a skilled person must ultimately be able to apply that knowledge accurately, safely and efficiently.”

The competition is designed to demonstrate that technical and vocational education is not a fallback option, but a pathway into meaningful and rewarding careers. The 11 categories – spanning automotive technology, CAD, construction, digital systems, electrical power systems, engineering graphics and design, electronics, fitting and machining, plumbing, woodworking, and welding and metalwork – reflect the breadth of technical capability required in a changing economy.

For the young competitors, the national final was an opportunity not only to compete, but to build confidence, experience and a clearer understanding of where their skills can take them.

Dr Mankodi Moitse, Chief Executive Officer of Kagiso Trust, said the competition demonstrated the value of creating opportunities for young people to discover their strengths and apply what they have learned.

“Technical and vocational pathways are not alternatives to success. They are important pathways into it,” she said.

“Technical excellence requires discipline, curiosity, the willingness to learn, to make mistakes, to try again and to keep improving. These are qualities that will serve young people well, wherever their careers take them.”

Dr Mankodi Moitse CEO of Kagiso Trust

She also highlighted the role of educators in creating these opportunities.

“Skills are transferred through people. The knowledge, patience and commitment of teachers, trainers and mentors help create opportunities for others.”

Thabile Makgala, Executive Vice President: People, SHE Risk and Corporate Affairs at Sasol added, “Tonight we celebrate more than technical ability. We celebrate the confidence that comes from mastering a skill, the courage to compete, and young South Africans showing that excellence is found in practical achievement as well as academic.

“The young people we have seen over the past two days could be tomorrow’s artisans, engineers and entrepreneurs. Our responsibility is to make sure the pathway is there for them when they leave school.”

Celebrating Achievement – And The People Behind It

The awards ceremony recognised the achievements of the teachers and learners who reached the national final, with winners announced across the competition’s categories.

The competition also recognised the contribution of educators, mentors, industry partners and sponsors who supported the finalists throughout the process.

“Behind every successful learner is an educator who invested time, energy and belief,” said Makgala. “Their contribution extends far beyond the classroom. They are helping to shape the next generation of skilled South Africans.”

Thabile Makgala Executive Vice President People Risk SHE and Corporate Affairs at Sasol and Sasol foundation Trustee

The 2026 competition was supported by a growing network of partners, including the Department of Basic Education, the Department of Higher Education and Training, Kagiso Trust, Resolution Circle, Matus, Modena, ATI, John Orr Engineering School of Specialisation and other industry and category sponsors.

The organisers also acknowledged the contribution of industry partners in providing venues, expertise, equipment, judging and opportunities for young people to engage with the world of work.

The National Skills Competition began in 2018 as a partnership between the Sasol Foundation and the Free State Department of Education. Kagiso Trust joined in 2022, introducing the teacher component, with the competition expanding to five provinces in 2023 and becoming fully national in 2024.

Today, the competition brings together learners, teachers, government, education institutions and industry around a shared objective: to raise the profile of technical skills and help build a stronger pipeline of young South Africans equipped for the future.

The initiative supports South Africa’s three-stream education model and the National Development Plan 2030 target of producing 30,000 artisans a year, while providing a platform through which young technical talent can progress towards further opportunities, including international skills competitions.

For the 2026 finalists, however, the achievement is more immediate.

They have demonstrated what is possible when talent meets opportunity – and shown that South Africa is not short of ambition, ability or potential.

The task now is to continue creating the pathways that allow that potential to become opportunity.

To view the full list of winners, click here.

Public transport is often discussed in terms of commuters, routes and fares. But behind those daily journeys sits another system that has to work properly: the regulation of the operators providing the service.

Gauteng is now trying to modernise that system through the Gauteng Public Transport Regulatory Information System (GPTRIS), a digitally enhanced platform designed to simplify compliance, improve operator registration and strengthen the management of public transport data.

The early response has been significant. Between 1 and 14 September 2026, the province processed 220 applications, with more than 30 operating licences already issued through over-the-counter transactions. The figures were highlighted by Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela in the province’s latest update on the system.

But the bigger question is what better regulation could mean for the transport network beyond the licensing process itself.

Bringing Regulation Into the Digital Age

Managing a public transport network involves more than putting vehicles on the road.

Operators need to register, apply for licences, meet compliance requirements and keep their information up to date. Government, meanwhile, needs accurate information to manage those processes and identify irregularities.

GPTRIS is intended to bring more of these functions into one digitally enhanced system. According to Gauteng Roads and Transport, the platform is designed to simplify compliance, reduce fraud, improve data management and make the application and processing of operating licences more efficient.

That may sound like an administrative improvement, but administrative systems can have operational consequences.

When information is fragmented or processes are slow, delays can affect operators before a vehicle even reaches the road. Better systems can give regulators a clearer picture of the sector while making it easier for legitimate operators to navigate the requirements they have to meet.

The province says this is intended to create a more accessible, transparent and responsive regulatory environment.

Public Transport is Part of the Economic Network

The importance of public transport extends well beyond the transport sector itself.

Gauteng is home to major commercial, industrial and employment centres, and millions of residents depend on public transport for their daily movement. The provincial government itself describes an efficient and well-regulated public transport sector as critical to economic growth, job creation and the daily movement of residents.

That makes public transport part of the wider economic network.

A factory, warehouse, retail operation or office can have the right infrastructure and equipment, but it still depends on people being able to get to work. When transport is unreliable or difficult to access, the consequences can extend into staffing, operating hours and productivity.

This is why the regulation of public transport matters to businesses that may never interact directly with the licensing system.

The workforce is one of the things that moves through the economy every day.

Better Data Could Give Government a Clearer Picture

One of the less visible benefits of a system like GPTRIS could be the information it produces.

The province says the platform is intended to improve data management alongside operator registration and licensing.

Accurate, accessible data can make it easier to understand who is operating, whether regulatory requirements are being met and where potential problems are emerging.

That does not automatically make the transport network better. A digital database cannot fix road conditions, congestion or vehicle shortages on its own.

What it can do is give regulators a stronger information base for managing the system.

That distinction is important. GPTRIS is an administrative and regulatory tool, not a solution to every challenge facing Gauteng’s public transport network.

Fraud and Compliance Are Part of Network Reliability

The province has also positioned GPTRIS as a way to tackle fraudulent activity linked to the granting and issuing of operating licences.

That makes compliance part of the broader reliability conversation.

For operators, clearer processes can reduce uncertainty around applications and regulatory requirements. For government, stronger controls can help protect the integrity of the licensing system.

The result the province is aiming for is a transport environment in which legitimate operators can access services more efficiently while regulation becomes easier to manage and monitor.

Whether the new system ultimately delivers those benefits will depend on how it performs over time.

The Real Test Will Be on the Ground

The early numbers show that operators are using GPTRIS. During its first two weeks, more than 200 applications were processed, including 220 applications cited by the MEC, with more than 30 operating licences issued through over-the-counter transactions.

That demonstrates early uptake, but it is too soon to judge the system by those figures alone.

The more meaningful test will be whether the digital system can translate into faster administrative processes, cleaner regulatory data, stronger compliance and fewer opportunities for fraudulent licensing activity.

There is also a longer-term question around how effectively that information can support transport planning and decision-making.

For Gauteng, modernising public transport regulation is therefore about more than replacing paperwork with a digital system. It is about creating a more structured information base around one of the networks that keeps the province moving.

Public transport may operate on roads, but its impact reaches into workplaces, commercial centres and the wider economy.

GPTRIS will ultimately be judged by what changes on the ground. If better regulation and better information make the system easier to manage and more responsive to operators and the travelling public, the value of the platform will extend well beyond the licensing office.