Browsing by Author "Lalendle, Chumasande"

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    Development of a monitoring and evaluation framework for the sustainability assessment of road freight transport systems in South Africa
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-03) Lalendle, Chumasande; Goedhals-Gerber, Leila Louise; Van Eeden, Joubert; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences. Dept. of Logistics.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Partial national lockdowns implemented globally, including in South Africa, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, significantly impacted the movement of goods, services and people with a dire negative effect on global economies. This has reignited the need for sustainable, resilient, and secure transportation services to meet the basic human needs into the future, post the pandemic. The importance of the freight industry cannot be disputed given the fact that the transportation of essential supply products and services were allowed to continue amid closure of borders and many industries. Global freight volumes continue to rise and the advancement of megatrends such as globalisation, population growth digitalization, demographic changes and rapid industrialisation are among the primary causes of this phenomenon. However, increased industrial activities and the need for transportation services, negatively impact the functioning of major transport and logistics systems. Moreover, over-reliance on road freight transportation systems (RFTS) over alternative modes of transport puts a strain on the RFTS. Hence, the need to develop a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) sustainability assessment framework to estimate and understand the impact of RFTS on the environment, economy and social aspects of people and their livelihoods. The study utilised a mixed-method approach guided by a three-stage process. Firstly, a systematic literature review was conducted to understand realities based on the objectives of the study. Secondly, the development of an inventory bank was completed to solicit Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to be used in the M&E framework, and lastly, findings from the first and second steps were utilised to develop the final M&E sustainability assessment framework. Results revealed that there are limited resources with frameworks that target all three dimensions of the triple bottom line in the assessment of RFTS. Furthermore, among the existing frameworks, fewer are developed to assess the sustainability of RFTS inthe South African context. Given these findings, an M&E framework that focuses on the holistic sustainability of RFTS in South Africa is recommended. The study makes an original contribution in terms of developing an M&E framework that addresses sustainability challenges in South African RFTS. This affords organisations a tool for tracking inputs towards system sustainability, annual sustainability status, system changes, progress, and decline of sustainability in the RFTS.