Minister of Employment Urges Employers to Ensure Workers Can Vote on November 4th

According to the latest Household Survey from Statistics South Africa, the proportion of South Africans using private transport for commuting is decreasing while the number of people working from home is increasing.

The study showed that the percentage of workers who travel to work by their own or another private car has dropped from 33% in 2015 to 26.3% in 2025. Over the same period, the share of workers who do not need to commute to work due to remote work increased from 11.8% to 12.3%. These figures indicate a change in modes of transport, with private transport playing a smaller role in journeys compared to 2015. However, the survey itself does not establish whether this trend is linked to the increase in remote employees.

Taxis remain a significant part of daily travel. In 2025, 24% of workers used them, up from 22.9% in 2015, making them the second most common mode of transport after private cars.

How South Africans commute to work

In 2025, 22.5% of workers walked to work, while buses were used by 3%, and trains by 0.6%. The study also found that 33.5% of households had at least one member who used a taxi during the week prior to the survey. Taxis were most frequently used in Gauteng, where 38.5% of households reported using taxis, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 36.6%.

These figures highlight the continued reliance on public transport, especially taxis, even as a larger portion of workers no longer commutes to the workplace.

School travel patterns are also changing

The shift in mobility patterns is also noticeable in how students get to school. Walking remained the most common way to reach educational institutions in 2025, accounting for 60.6%, compared to 66.5% in 2015. Another 14.8% traveled in vehicles arranged by parents' groups, while 10.8% used their own or another private car, which is higher than 9.3% in 2015. Minibus taxis were used by 6.5% of students, down from 6.9% previously, and 5% traveled by a minibus or bus provided free of charge by the institution or government.

Statistics South Africa noted that understanding how people move to schools, workplaces, healthcare facilities, and other essential services is crucial for transport planning and ensuring road safety.

Dubai residents can now replace home offices and cafes with a green environment thanks to the opening of a new workspace in Al Barsha Pond Park. The daily pass for this area costs 50 dirhams.

The facility operates daily from 8 am to 8 pm and allows residents to work or study while enjoying the park's recreational amenities. The 50 dirham pass includes access to the workspace and free coffee, making it an attractive alternative for freelancers, remote employees, students, and small business owners looking for a change of scenery.

This initiative, named Work from Park, is a project by the Dubai Municipality, developed in collaboration with Group AMANA and Letswork. It aims to integrate flexible workspaces into public parks, expanding their functions beyond simple recreation to create spaces for work, meetings, and community interaction.

Omar Almeiri, co-founder and CTO of Letswork, noted that the concept arose after discussions with the Dubai Municipality on how to encourage more people to visit public parks. He explained that the Work from Park idea originated from the vision of the Dubai Municipality team, whose goal was to make parks more accessible and prompt people to visit them for more than just traditional activities.

According to him, the task was to develop existing facilities in the parks—which already offer sports and recreational services, as well as food and beverage options—by adding another reason to stay there. For 50 dirhams, visitors can use the workspace all day and receive free coffee from the coffee partner. Existing Letswork members can also use their membership credits, with the daily pass costing 10 credits.

The workspace is designed to accommodate about 100 people simultaneously, catering to various work needs—from individuals seeking a temporary desk to teams requiring dedicated zones.

Ahmed Mohammed Almarzouki, Dubai Parks Manager at the Dubai Municipality, stated that Al Barsha Pond Park was chosen for the first phase of the project due to its location and variety of visitor amenities. He emphasized that this is the first stage of the Workfrom Park initiative, located specifically in Al Barsha Pond Park, and the location was selected because of its strategic position and presence of recreational areas, including a pond, running track, and playground.

Thus, visitors can combine a workday with active outdoor time, and parents can bring children to the park and utilize its infrastructure. Almarzouki also specified that the workspace is equipped for those who require a quieter setting, including a private room for employees or students needing a quiet place to work or study, as well as a meeting room. This initiative plans to reach various groups, including students and working professionals.

There is potential for Letswork to expand this initiative beyond Al Barsha Pond Park; other public parks and even beaches are being considered as possible locations. Almeiri added that the partnership also responds to changes in work models, as remote work becomes more accessible for employees, freelancers, and small and medium-sized enterprises. He noted that the idea was to bring workplaces closer to residential areas while more effectively utilizing public spaces.

He also mentioned that possibilities were discussed for using common spaces, including the majlis, traditionally used for weddings and other events, as potential workspaces. This initiative supports the Dubai Parks and Greenery Strategy 2040, the Dubai Master Plan 2040, and the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, reflecting the commitment to integrating green public spaces with the changing urban lifestyle and work patterns.

Even after receiving a job offer, candidates sometimes change their minds due to more favorable conditions or other preferences. While this is not inherently wrong, it is crucial to notify the company of any change in plans promptly. A recent incident that became a topic of discussion on social media relates to this: one applicant allegedly requested a postponement of the start date, citing hospitalization.

However, the company founder claims that during the same week, this candidate started working at another firm located in Bangalore.

This case was highlighted by the company founder, Gaurav Khetrapal, who shared the details on the social network X. He stated that the candidate was supposed to start work on the appointed day but did not show up. When contacted, the candidate explained her absence due to poor health and being in the hospital. Subsequently, the candidate's sister contacted the recruitment team to request a postponement of the start date.

Gaurav Khetrapal continued his post by stating that during this period, the candidate neither answered calls nor messages.

The company initially decided to accommodate the candidate's circumstances and grant her extra time. Nevertheless, according to Gaurav Khetrapal, it later emerged that the candidate had accepted a job offer from another company in Bangalore during the same period. The founder also noted that the candidate updated the information about the new job on her LinkedIn profile. Furthermore, the founder questioned the reason for the city change, mentioning that the candidate had previously expressed a desire to move to Jaipur because she disliked the climate of Bangalore, even though it later became known that she was employed by another company specifically in Bangalore.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the situation, Khetrapal emphasized that if any candidate receives a more attractive offer or wishes to work elsewhere, they are obligated to inform the company openly. In his view, changing career decisions is not an error, but providing false information or using medical emergencies as an excuse is unprofessional behavior.

After the founder's post went viral, a new discussion began regarding honesty in the hiring and employment process. Some users noted that the candidate has every right to choose the best opportunities, but she should have clearly stated her position to the company. It should be noted that all information in this case is based on the founder's publication, and no comments or independent confirmations have been received from the candidate herself at this time.