Cape Town’s new Household Survey shows that private vehicles remain the dominant form of transport in the city, with 48% of households making use of this mode, followed by minibus taxi at 29.8%, busses at 9.3%, and walking at 11.3% of households.
The study was conducted between February and October last year, before passenger rail improved to become more of a viable transport option.
The household survey engaged more than 8 000 households, from formal residences to informal settlements and backyard dwellings.
The data includes socioeconomic indicators, including housing conditions, education levels, mobility patterns, access to essential services, household income and expenditure and overall vulnerability.
Across all modes of travel, 17.2% of respondents travel less than 15 minutes to work, 41.1% travel between 15 minutes and 30 minutes, and 33.5% travel between 31 minutes and an hour. The remaining 8.2% travel more than an hour.
When it comes to monthly income, the biggest monthly income bracket – 18.7% – is those who earn between R3 201 and R6 400 a month.
The second biggest group – 16.9% – earn between R6 401 and R12 800.
Households with no income number 1%, and households which have an income of more than R102 401 a month, stand at 1.8%.
Around 31% of households cite food price increases, and 25.6% electricity price increases, as their primary budget constraints.
Public facility use is fairly broad, with 14.8% of households using community halls at least once a month, with library use at 24.6% of households, and sports facilities at 20%.
Around 33.7% of households use public parks at least once a month.
“This survey is a game-changer for Cape Town as it provides the granular, timely data we need to plan better, respond faster and build a more inclusive and resilient city,” says Cape Town deputy mayor Eddie Andrews.
The city plans to conduct the survey every two to three years.
