Youth Mobility in a Post-Apartheid City: An Analysis of the Use of E-Hailing by Students in Johannesburg, South Africa

Abstract

‘Cities of the South’ are a site of increasing geographical inquiry, as their complexity and particularity has challenged traditional conceptualisations of the urban, emphasising the relationality and social production of the city. Mobility is one manifestation of this complexity, with transport in Southern cities being synonymous with fragmentation. This is especially true in the context of Johannesburg, a post-apartheid city designed to exclude the majority, characterised by urban sprawl and car-centric design. Uber was introduced in 2013, with Taxify following in 2016, as ‘e-Hailing apps’ which utilise the digital network economy to deliver mobility services. These apps have impacted mobility within Johannesburg, especially for the youth who have demands not completely met by public transport. This study explores the use of e-Hailing apps among students in Johannesburg, assessing the impact on mobility in a South African context. A questionnaire and interviews were conducted to explore patterns of e-Hailing app use and the opportunity costs involved in decision-making. The results illustrated that e-Hailing apps are primarily used by students when going out at night, and to ‘fill in the gaps’. Furthermore, the findings highlighted that safety and cost are key considerations in this process and create various outcomes depending on societal position and preferences. Through these insights, this study contributes to an understanding of youth mobility within an African, post-apartheid, city of the South.