The Impact of Road Infrastructure on Rural Development in South Africa

Abstract

In South Africa road infrastructure play a critical role in the rural areas towards improving their livelihoods. The rural community members use road networks for travelling from one area to another such as schools, clinics, shopping complex, work etc. For the past decades the government established programmes to improve access to road networks especially within the rural areas as a result of the injustices left by the apartheid government. However, there are still challenges within the rural areas of lack of transportation as a result of improper road networks for travelling. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the impact of road infrastructure on rural development. This paper adopted systematic data processing approach which is a qualitative data analysis method of reviewing literature from different scholars with regard to the research topic in question. The researcher grouped the information into themes prior reviewing them to derive results. The paper indicated that measures have been taken by the government in improving road infrastructure. However, the initiative did not yield ample outcome due to financial constraints on the government. It has also shown that rural communities members are still struggling to access transportation due to dilapidated road networks, as such that poses a serious threat towards their livelihoods. Therefore, the government need to come up with new measures on how they could develop road networks towards rural development. There is a need to seek stakeholder involvement such as business people, farmers and the private sector to assist in constructing proper road. Public private partnership is one of the key tool towards infrastructure investment.