Watch as Iain Banner, Chairman of the e-Movement shares his unique insights into Africa’s green mobility future from the studio at Africa’s Green Economy Summit.
Banner also sheds some light on the importance of the recently launched Go Green Africa initiative.
Find out more about the e-Movement.
In this exclusive ESI Africa interview, Anazi Zote Piper, SMA Mobility & Stakeholder Manager, speaks to Founder and CEO of Africa SmatTrans Nthabiseng Mehale about creating a new urban mobility system in South Africa.
Since speaking at Smarter Mobility Africa summit 2022 Mehale has been making further strides in developing infrastructure in the mobility sector.
Firstly, I am a transport specialist having a qualification in BTech Transportation.? I have been in policy and regulation most of my career. I worked for the National Department of Transport in the policy and implementation section.? We were driving multimodal transport through rolling out the establishment of Transport Authorities nationally.? Then, I was in the infrastructure, construction, property and housing industries.?
I believe I have came full circle as they are inter-related.? In my career I have been able to uncover and realise transformative opportunities especially for women-owned businesses. I have recieved an award in SMME development for my efforts. I also previously held various positions as a National Manager, Regional Manager, Executive Director of a Real Estate Investment Trust and Managing Director of a property company.
During the COVID-19 pandemic I was part of a facilitation team with GetSmarter, the 2U subsidiary in South Africa for a MIT School of Planning and Architecture; Self Driving Cars and the future of Reals Estate. It was at that time that I started a consulting business, Africa SmartTrans, to advise on policy, mobility, logistics, public transport, infrastructure development, sustainability and urbanism.
As we all know, the world is changing with a drive towards protecting our environment and more alignment and adoption of UN SDG goals. I am gravitating along the same principles thus making me an advocate of sustainable cities with free carbon emission mobilities.
As we all know, the world is changing, with a drive towards protecting our environment and more alignment and adoption of UN SDG goals. I am gravitating along the same principles, thus making me an advocate of sustainable cities with free carbon emission mobilities.
My interest is in shared mobility, on-demand and micro mobility going electrical or autonomous or hydrogen. ?These changes need to be supported by reconfiguring infrastructure that will ensure an urban mobility ecosystem designed for green living and compatibility with mobility hubs.
I would introduce radical changes to policy for sustainability mobility solutions:
In this exclusive ESI Africa interview Anazi Zote Piper, SMA Mobility Content & Stakeholder Manager, speaks to KONECTA Founder and Chief Digital Officer Yandisa Sokhanyile about the use of clean energy in South Africa’s transport sector.
Since speaking at Smarter Mobility Africa summit 2022, Yandisa Sokhanyile been making her mark in efforts to digitally transforming the transport sector.
I honestly believe this is a long-term journey, the one that I enjoy every day and I hope through my actions and seeds that I plant daily I will eventually say I have made my mark. My goal is to make an impact and bring about the much-needed improvement in the transport sector through technology.
Transport is the driver of any economy and a crucial part in moving the economy forward whether its commuting passenger or transportation of goods. My goal is to ensure that the sector is digitally transformed and also opportunities are created for women to play a vital role in this sector.
I personally provide a lot of thought leadership and advise different stakeholders in creating a digitally transformed transport ecosystem. As a business we have developed the first multi modal route planner for Gauteng Province (Gauteng On The Move App), the first of its kind in the country. We are also providing affordable data packages for drivers and riders operating in the Mobility-as-a-Service platforms and Mobility on demand.
It is high time we grow local manufacturing in the Automotive sector, this can also improve accessibility of transport and create the much-needed jobs.
I am looking forward to the growth of electric transport. Green and clean energy is not a choice right now, but it is a what we all need to be striving for. We are already feeling the impact of global warming and we owe it to the next generation to ensure that this world is still a safer place for humanity.
I am also looking at the many opportunities for local manufacturing and production of these vehicles or even components. It is high time we grow local manufacturing in the automotive sector, this can also improve accessibility of transport and create the much-needed jobs.
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This is a critical role, as the Transport Minister has to deal with different modes of transportation from air, water to land with focus on passenger and freight. Our biggest problem is the disparity in our transport systems – our public transport is not efficient or easily accessible, which drives the need for private cars leading to higher carbon emission.
I would start with these 3 areas: Firstly I would digitise routes to ensure that the Department can get live transport feeds and live data which is crucial for decision making and ability to disperse public transport correctly. This would help the taxi industry with routes planning and make sure the distribution is done in an effective manner that services the demand. The use of geo-fencing will help to curb the fight for routes amongst the taxi owners. If routes are digitised, it opens up business opportunities for deliveries into township and also creates new business models.
Our biggest problem is the disparity in our transport systems. Public transport is not efficient or easily accessible, which drives the need for private cars leading to higher carbon emission.
Secondly, for rail I would put emphasis on upgrading rail infrastructure. Rail is still the cheapest form of transportation for commuters. Improve freight rail and transportation of goods – in that way we can free up the roads, decrease the number of road accidents caused by trucks and most importantly build more export capacity for the country.
Thirdly for commuters I would make public transport accessible and efficient by integrating all public transport modes and have one travel app for the country and make sure public transport information is available, trackable and commuters can pay with one app or card for all transport modes regardless of the province they are in. Ensure passenger safety in the transport hubs and adopt a public transport on demand model to ensure commuters do not spend over 4 hours daily commuting.
In this exclusive ESI Africa interview, SMA Mobility Content & Stakeholder Engagement Manager Anazi Zote Piper interviews uBunye Capital CEO Vuysile Majola about the minibus taxi industry and mobility in South Africa.
Since speaking at Smarter Mobility Africa summit 2022, Vuyisile Majola has been making an impact in digitally transforming South Africa’s transport sector.
My work in the transport sector has a strong focus on informal mobility solutions. Given the South African informal and formal economy settings we have a very unique manifistation of mobility. While the formal transport sector is well funded and organised, the informal sector does not enjoy the same.
Highlighting the institutional voids that impede the efficiency and integration of the informal transport sector is what fuels my passion for creating meaning and economic inclusion for the sector. Taxi operators, taxi drivers, women in the taxi industry, youth entrepreneurs innovating solutions for the informal sector are just a few groups I impact through my work.
In the African context, I believe we are at a very exciting time. Mobility is at the core of Africa’s growth and prosperity, thus key technology developments that enable smart mobility are the catalyst. I look forward to technology and green energy solutions that are reflective of true African mobility environment.
Taxi operators, taxi drivers, women in the taxi industry, youth entrepreneurs innovating solutions for the informal sector are just a few groups I impact through my work.
I’ve thought about this many times, and the answer is always different. Our technology, socio-economic, geo-political and fiscal conditions are key variables one has to consider. In fact one cannot consider the movement of people and their things (mobility) without careful consideration of these variables.
My first decree would be one that enforces the development of a single public transport framework that is implemented across all spheres of government with a strong focus on devolution.
Listen to this exclusive interview with Iain Banner, Chairman and Co-founder of e-Movement Pty Ltd which will stage the “fastest sustainable motoring event in the world”.
LISTEN TO THE PODCAST BELOW
e- Movement (Pty) Ltd is a rights-holding business incorporated in South Africa that uses events such as the e-Fest to advocate for renewable energy and e-mobility solutions. It secured the rights to stage Formula E in Cape Town.
The Cape Town E-Prix on 25 February 2023 is part of E-FEST Cape Town, the special events, festivities and entertainment that celebrates sustainability, alternative e-mobility and renewable energy solutions. Africa’s Green Economy Summit is co-located with E-FEST Cape Town from 22 to 24 February 2023.
