Private-vehicle commuting falls as work-from-home share edges higher
The share of South African workers travelling to work by private vehicle fell from 33% in 2015 to 26.3% in 2025, while 12.3% worked from home, according to Stats SA.
Recent data from Statistics South Africa indicates a decline in private vehicle use for commuting among South African workers, while the number of individuals working from home has increased. In 2025, 26.3% of workers traveled to work using a private vehicle, down from 33% in 2015. Conversely, the percentage of workers who work from home rose slightly from 11.8% to 12.3% over the same period. This change in commuting habits has resulted in private vehicles accounting for a smaller portion of journeys compared to 2015.
Taxis continue to play a significant role in daily commutes, with 24% of workers using them in 2025, up from 22.9% in 2015. Walking was the most common mode of transport for getting to work, employed by 22.5% of workers, while buses were used by 3% and trains by 0.6%. Approximately 33.5% of households had at least one member using a taxi during the week before the survey, with the highest usage in Gauteng (38.5%) and KwaZulu-Natal (36.6%).
The survey also revealed that walking remained the predominant method for getting to school in 2025, with 60.6% of learners walking compared to 66.5% in 2015. Additionally, 14.8% of learners traveled in group-hired vehicles, up from 9.3% in 2015, while 6.5% used minibus taxis and 5% were transported in minibus or bus services provided by institutions or the government at no cost.
Understanding travel patterns to schools, workplaces, healthcare facilities, and other essential services is crucial for effective transport planning and road safety.
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