For Mpho Ngema, who lives in Rabie Ridge and works in Bedfordview, getting to work is a daily calculation of distance, time and cost. His journey requires several taxi trips before he reaches his destination, with each fare adding to the overall cost of his commute.
Mpho pays R13 for a taxi from Rabie Ridge to Ivory Taxi Rank, followed by R26 from the taxi rank towards Eastgate Mall and another R5 to reach Bedfordview Centre. On his way home, he avoids the additional R5 trip by using the R26 taxi that passes closer to where he lives. Altogether, he spends about R70 a day on taxi fares. Over 21 to 23 working days, this amounts to between R1,470 and R1,610 a month, or roughly R18,000 to R19,320 over a year.
While individual fares may appear relatively small, Mpho’s experience shows how quickly daily transport costs can accumulate for commuters who must make several connections. The monthly amount is money that has to be set aside before paying for groceries, electricity, accommodation, debt repayments or other household expenses.
His experience comes as South Africans face higher transport costs. Statistics South Africa reported that transport prices increased by 12.7% year-on-year in June 2026, making transport one of the biggest contributors to inflation. Fuel prices were 34.3% higher than a year earlier, with petrol increasing by 31.7% and diesel by 50.8%.
Minibus taxi fares were also under pressure, increasing by 11.5% year-on-year in June. For commuters who rely on taxis every day, particularly those who need more than one taxi to complete their journey, increases in fares can have a direct effect on their monthly budgets.
Gauteng’s geography adds another layer to the problem. Many residents live considerable distances from the province’s major employment centres, meaning that travelling to work can require multiple transport connections. Research by the Gauteng City-Region Observatory has highlighted the significant share of household income that residents spend on transport, particularly among people living further from economic opportunities.
Transport is already one of the largest household expenses in South Africa. Statistics SA’s 2022/23 Income and Expenditure Survey found that transport accounted for 15.3% of total household consumption expenditure, with the average household spending about R21,930 on transport during the period.
For commuters, the issue is therefore about more than the price of fuel or a single taxi fare. When transport costs rise, households may have to reduce spending elsewhere to make up the difference. Small daily increases can eventually affect how much money is available for food, savings, school expenses and unexpected costs.
There was some relief in July, when annual transport inflation slowed to 8.9%, while petrol prices fell by 7.1% over the month. However, petrol remained 19.3% more expensive than a year earlier, showing that a slower rate of inflation does not necessarily mean commuters are paying less than they were before.
Mpho’s R70 daily commute is a reminder that the cost of employment does not end with earning a salary. For many Gauteng workers, getting to work is itself a significant monthly expense. The affordability, reliability and availability of public transport can therefore determine not only how people move around the province, but also how much of their income they can keep.
