Mac Mashiri

Gwarajena Transportation Research & Development

For many young people across sub-Saharan Africa, work—whether paid or unpaid—is a fundamental element of everyday life. This chapter encompasses not only work activities that require mobility to reach or conduct work but also work activities that are specifically generated by Africa’s transport failures (the need to carry water in the absence of wa...

This chapter introduces the field studies on which the book is based and traces the development of the mixed-method, child-centred approach to mobilities research, embedded in participant observation and culminating in the Child Mobility (CM) study in 24 sites. The incorporation of peer-investigation by young people themselves, working with academi...

This chapter is concerned with the intersections between children’s mobility and educational uptake and achievement. It introduces some important pupil experiences that have received little consideration in conventional academic debates about educational access issues and failures across Africa (which tend to focus on what happens in the classroom)...

This chapter focuses on young people’s access and travel to health services (for personal consultation and treatment) in rural and urban locations, situating the discussion, where feasible, with reference to the wider therapeutic landscapes (material, symbolic and virtual) within which these health-care practices and experiences are played out. Unl...

This chapter follows on directly from Chap. 7, as the transport theme moves from walking and cycling to motor-mobility, but it brings to the fore a very different set of mobility experiences. Young people discuss their views and experiences of travelling in the shared space of the motor vehicle: motor-mobility not only enables an extended spatial r...

The focus of this chapter (and the next) is the felt, everyday experiences young people have of specific travel modes and their journeys using them, drawing on Cresswell’s (2010) disaggregation of mobility into constituent parts, each with a politics which can be used to differentiate people and things into hierarchies of mobility. Following a brie...

This chapter explores the everyday mobility of pre-pubescent children and older teenagers outside of school and work arenas. Life beyond formal education and work is crucial not only to young people’s health, well-being and happiness of and in the moment, but will contribute to shaping their identity in the long term, not least through the construc...

The concluding chapter reflects on the findings presented throughout the book. Mobilities as social constructs are experienced and imagined very differently, not least according to age, gender and family context. Most significant of all is the issue of gender equality, which permeates the material reality of so many mobilities stories. Attention is...

This introductory chapter describes the research gap that existed regarding young people’s everyday mobilities and immobilities in sub-Saharan Africa prior to the field studies on which this book is based. It introduces key issues and concepts that are central to ensuing discussions on this theme, setting the work within the context of the ‘new mob...

This book explores the daily mobilities and immobilities of children and young people in sub-Saharan Africa. The authors draw on findings from rural and urban field research extending over many years, culminating in a 24-site study across three African countries: Ghana, Malawi, and South Africa. Wider reflections on gender, relationality, the polit...

The " Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) " is mandated by " the " Government " of " the Republic " of " South Africa to champion rural development programs in the country. To achieve this, the department is required to develop plans that will address the needs of people who live in extreme poverty and underdevelopment in rural...

The profession of town and regional planners was often perceived as having been employed by successive pre-1994 governments as a tool to satisfy and entrench many land-based segregation measures. The enactment of the Planning Profession Act (PPA), Act 36 of 2002 is thus considered a landmark as this piece of legislation was considered as one of the...

The need to enhance South Africa's economic vitality, the " quality of life for " its citizens " and " sustaining " the environment " , is increasingly necessitating the generation of new development paradigms or revamping and strengthening existing ones (www.mrhamilton.ca). In this regard, and with respect to the transportation sector, solutions t...

This paper revolves around the data-driven development of an integrated rural transport plan (IRTP) for King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality (KSD) in the Province of the Eastern Cape in South Africa. The IRTP's departure point is that there is a high socioeconomic price to pay if the travel and transport needs of the poor rural majority are not adeq...

Facilitating regional trade and commerce is vital for the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It also constitutes a pivotal policy plank for South Africa in terms of bolstering regional economic integration. However, a host of constraints and impediments located and operating at different scales make prospects for increased and unencumbe...

Young people's use of mobile phones is expanding exponentially across Africa. Its transformative potential is exciting, but findings presented in this paper indicate how the downside of mobile phone use in African schools is becoming increasingly apparent. Drawing on mixed-methods field research in 24 sites across Ghana, Malawi and South Africa and...

Informal paratransit operators using a range of vehicle types (including pickup trucks, small buses, and motorcycles) are a major provider of mobility in rural areas of the developing world. The paper describes a mixed method approach used to examine such operators’ decisions about vehicle deployment, route frequency, network organisation, and pric...

Mthatha, located in King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality (KSD) is a rapidly growing rural town. Its sphere of influence is geographically much wider than the administrative boundaries of KSD. Mthatha is thus a regional rural town servicing a hinterland characterised by significant structural problems that tend to impede rural communities from fully...

Since the introduction of the national policy to provide basic services to all South Africans, the effectiveness of service delivery and returns on infrastructure investments have become a point of growing concern, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas as well as small rural towns. An increasing awareness of the discrepancies between what is e...

The penetration of mobile phones into sub-Saharan Africa has occurred with amazing rapidity: for many young people, they now represent a very significant element of their daily life. This paper explores usage and perceived impacts among young people aged c. 9–18 years in three countries: Ghana, Malawi and South Africa. Our evidence comes from inten...

This paper draws on rich ethnographic data and complementary survey research from a three-country study (Ghana, Malawi, South Africa) of young people's mobility to explore the gendered nature of children's journeys to school in sub-Saharan Africa. In most African countries, girls' participation in formal education is substantially lower than boys',...

This paper draws attention to the significance of mobility in shaping the educational and livelihood trajectories of rural young people in sub-Saharan Africa, with particular reference to a case study in Eastern Cape, South Africa. Young rural people commonly face both economic and political exclusions. As our case study illustrates, in the context...

Young people's daily mobility in sub-Saharan Africa remains largely invisible and under-researched. Drawing on qualitative and quantitative data from the Child Mobility Project in South Africa, we show how young people's daily journeys (to school and other places) shape, and are shaped by, the possibility of sexual encounters. Young women are seen...

This paper reflects on issues raised by work with children in an ongoing child mobility study in three sub-Saharan African countries: Ghana, Malawi and South Africa. There are now 70 school pupils of varying ages involved in the project, but the paper is particularly concerned with the participation of those children 14 years and under. We examine...

This paper draws on mobility research conducted with children in three countries: Ghana, Malawi and South Africa. It has two interlinked aims: to highlight the potential that mobile interviews can offer in research with young people, especially in research contexts where the main focus is on mobility and its impacts, and to contribute empirical evi...

Knowledge to Reposition Africa in the World Economy: 3rd Biennial Knowledge Management Africa Conference, Dakar, Senegal, 4-7 May 2009 This paper reviews the southern African region’s economic integration and knowledge management terrain from a spatial perspective. Its purpose is to generate insights relating to the role that space and spatial stru...

Poor infrastructure, inadequate literacy, availability of technology and socio-cultural settings are a few factors in the myriad of challenges facing the development of rural areas in South Africa. Healthcare is one of the most important sectors where governments of developing countries strive to enhance the situation by utilizing affordable ICT so...

Science real and relevant: 2nd CSIR Biennial Conference, CSIR International Convention Centre Pretoria, 17&18 November 2008 This paper discuses the extent to which employment-intensive rural infrastructure maintenance projects can be used as a tool to empower women to achieve sustainable rural livelihoods using Siyatentela rural road maintenance pr...

The paper explores ways in which existing gender analysis frameworks - and the Moser framework in particular - can be adapted by transport and urban analysts in starting to examine the gender aspects of their work. In recent years a convergence of more socially progressive transport policy, and an intentional focus on the gender aspects of developm...

There are formidable transport and related logistical difficulties with rural social service delivery, as well as the production and marketing of foodstuffs, other agriculturally based products, construction materials, etc. Many of these have to do with the large distances that have to be traversed (mostly involving the use of poor roads or tracks)...

Children and youths under the age of eighteen have received remarkably little attention in transport and mobility studies in low income countries, apart from limited work on road safety. This is an extremely important omission given that over half the population of many such countries consists of children and young persons. Improving mobility and a...

The paper deals with two main themes: 1) the integration and transformation of rural service delivery; and 2) role of management information and decision support systems in this process. Referring specifically to the types of rural areas, conditions, challenges and institutional environment in South Africa, the argument for the transformation of ru...

The purpose of this concept paper is to contribute to the development of a New Partnership for Africa's Development policy on the nature of its new partnerships and the design of an External Partners Peer Review Mechanism. To this end, the paper explores the nature, context and content of past and current partnerships between Africa and external de...

This article presents a case for a reorientation of the way in which rural transport needs are perceived, planned and provided for, with a view to improved targeting of interventions, particularly with regard to addressing the mobility and accessibility needs of rural women. In addition, it seeks to critically appraise the sustainability of poverty...

The Amadiba community, which is nestled in the Mbizana Local Municipality, situated in the O R Tambo District in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, approached the CSIR through a local not-for-profit organisation for assistance to upgrade their road. Mbizana is considered to be one of the poorest local authorities in the entire country with...

It is the purpose of this chapter to advance the discourse between gender analysis and transport, specifically within the urban development context, with a view to promoting an understanding of the strategic role of transport, access and mobility in addressing strategic human (including gendered) development issues. The objective is to explore the...

With the help of some practical examples, this paper seeks to highlight the importance of technology transfer, not only in stimulating innovation, but also in broadening livelihood opportunities as well as in strengthening local institutions. A strand of thought that runs through the paper is that as the gradual shift to a knowledge society takes s...

Copyright: 2007 Unisa Press Transport plays a significant role in the lives of children and young people, facilitating or constraining their ability to discharge their domestic responsibilities, providing opportunities for earning an income, supporting or inhibiting the development of social networks, and influencing their health and educational ac...

Traditional transport planning has tended to focus on addressing the needs of mainstream commuters through the provision of improved transport infrastructure and services, leaving out a significant number of existing and prospective users especially rural and peri-urban dwellers. However, in recent years there has been a relatively strong consensus...

While transport is a significant enabler of sustaining livelihoods among poor communities, it is clearly also increasingly deemed important to deliver the benefits of greater inclusion of persons with disabilities into society, enabling them to participate more fully in every day activities, particularly in developing and transition countries. Inte...

Paper presented at the 27th Annual Southern African Transport Conference 7 - 11 July 2008 "Partnership for research and progress in transportation", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa The Mpumalanga Department of Roads and Transport (MDORT) developed and published a Rural Transport Strategy for the province in May 2006. On...

Paper presented at the 27th Annual Southern African Transport Conference 7 - 11 July 2008 "Partnership for research and progress in transportation", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa This paper presents a case for factoring in gender perspectives in initiatives intended to strengthen informal rural healthcare delivery sys...

Science real and relevant: 2nd CSIR Biennial Conference, CSIR International Convention Centre Pretoria, 17&18 November 2008 Southern Africa is expected to experience further increases in temperature and declining rainfall patterns as well as increased frequency of extreme climate events (such as droughts and floods) as a result of climate change. T...

Science real and relevant: 2nd CSIR Biennial Conference, CSIR International Convention Centre Pretoria, 17 & 18 November 2008 This paper presents an examination and analysis of rural development struggles facing contemporary South Africa. An analytical transportation approach is used to tease out current theory, practice and obstacles to rural deve...

Paper presented at the 27th Annual Southern African Transport Conference 7 - 11 July 2008 "Partnership for research and progress in transportation", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa This paper seeks to unpack the relationship between mobility and accessibility on the one hand, and rural healthcare delivery on the other,...

Through the evolvement of gender and development theory, a recent shift can be observed away from specific projects for women towards the integration of gender analysis in all research and planning. Development in engendered transport research theory reflects this shift, and yet much needs to be done to mainstream gender into quantitative transport...

Shaping the future. Planning Africa Conference 2008, Johannesburg, South Africa, 14-16 April , 2008 This paper presents some insights into the intersection of physical planning and governance in Zimbabwe. It argues that the major theoretical, policy and practice discourses - explaining the intersection of physical planning and governance - relate t...

Sustainable transport: 28th Annual Southern African Transport conference (SATC) 2009, Pretoria, South Africa, July 6-9, 2009 The aim of this paper is to explore and document, through the use of qualitative data, children and young people’s experiences and perceptions of mobility and transport constraints in accessing social services such as health,...

Sustainable Transport: 28th Annual Southern African Transport Conference (SATC) 2009, Pretoria, South Africa, 6-9 July 2009 This paper discusses the contribution of transport governance to socio-economic development in South Africa. It is premised on the argument that transport governance is a higher, more complex and inclusive phenomenon than tran...

Sustainable Transport: 28th Southern African Transport Conference, Pretoria, South Africa, 6-9 July 2009 This paper seeks to establish a baseline against which to assess the impacts of the ‘Ehlanzeni District Health Transport Function’ for the district’s healthcare service delivery output, and by extension, health and welfare outcomes. The main obj...

15th Americas conference on Information Systems, San Francisco, California, United States of America, August 6-9, 2009 Poor infrastructure, inadequate literacy, availability of technology and socio-cultural settings are a few factors in the myriad of challenges facing the development of rural areas in South Africa. Healthcare is one of the most imp...

29th Annual Southern African Transport Conference, "Walk Together", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa, 16 - 19 August 2010 This paper establishes the connection between transport, agriculture and rural development. The paper achieves this purpose by drawing from the experiences of the Mhlontlo municipality integrated infr...

29th Annual Southern African Transport Conference, "Walk Together", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa, 16 - 19 August 2010 This paper presents findings of a study to investigate the advisability and feasibility of establishing a transport authority (TA) in the Capricorn District Municipality (CDM) with a view to strengthe...

29th Annual Southern African Transport Conference, "Walk Together", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa, 16 - 19 August 2010 This paper briefly describes the community-based labour-intensive construction of the Integrated Rural Mobility and Access (IRMA) transportation infrastructure projects using selected beneficiary vill...