For millions of South Africans, the daily trek to work is a routine fact of life, measured in rands spent on petrol, taxi fare or e-hailing fees – but a growing conversation is shifting focus from the financial outlay to another precious commodity: time.
Lebogang Gaoaketse, Head of Marketing and Communications at WesBank, observes the journey involves more than just distance. “Mobility is not just about getting from A to B. It’s about what that journey costs you in time, in money and in quality of life,” he says.
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Recent data from a University of Cape Town study gives weight to this, indicating the average one-way commute for South Africans falls between 30 minutes and 60 minutes. This translates to roughly four full working days each month dedicated solely to travel. Over a year, that figure climbs to more than 360 hours.
The study also highlights walking makes up over half of all trips taken nationally. For a significant portion of the population, this is not a lifestyle preference but a financial necessity. With one in three South Africans unable to access other forms of transport, the time cost of commuting is disproportionately high for lower-income households.
“Every extra hour spent commuting is an hour away from family, rest or personal growth. That’s part of the real cost of mobility,” Gaoaketse adds.
The choice of transport presents a complex set of trade-offs. A commuter using e-hailing for two trips a day at approximately R80 a trip could see monthly costs near R3 200, gaining flexibility at a price. The Gautrain, offering comfort and reliability on a Pretoria-to-Sandton route for R120 to R140 daily, amounts to between R2 800 and R3 500 per month, but confines users to its fixed network. Minibus taxis, at R15 to R25 a trip, provide an affordable monthly range of R600 to R1 000, though travel times and conditions can be less predictable.
In this landscape, vehicle ownership is often considered for the control and independence it provides. While it introduces fixed costs such as repayments, fuel, and insurance, it also brings a degree of predictability to daily planning.
“When people have a clear picture of their mobility costs, they can make smarter decisions,” Gaoaketse says.
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A useful tool here is the CHANGECARS Finance Calculator, designed to help customers assess affordability. However, car ownership is not only about the upfront price of the vehicle and owners need to understand Total Cost of Ownership that takes into account the monthly repayments on any purchase loan, interest charges, fuel costs, insurance and maintenance, all of which combine to provide a cost per kilometre.
This has led to an evolution in commuting habits, with many South Africans now adopting hybrid mobility lifestyles. Some opt for small, fuel-efficient cars for the weekly school and work runs, switching to e-hailing for weekend social trips. Others blend public transport with e-hailing to bridge the first and last kilometre of their journey. A noticeable trend also sees families managing with a single vehicle, coordinating schedules and supplementing with lift clubs.
“Mobility is personal. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. It’s about finding the combination that gives you freedom and balance,” Gaoaketse concludes.
The discussion is moving beyond simple transit, framing mobility as a matter of personal empowerment. The most budget-friendly option can carry a heavy time cost, while the most convenient can strain finances. The objective for many is no longer to find the single best option, but to find a workable equilibrium for their own circumstances.
Colin Windell for Colin-on-Cars in association with
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