Smart Mobility Solutions Toward Urban Transport Sustainability in South Africa: A Bibliometric Review

Abstract This study explores the evolution of research on smart mobility solutions and urban transport sustainability in South Africa from 1999 to 2025. Using a bibliometric approach, it aims to map publication trends, identify influential authors and institutions, and uncover key themes and research gaps. The Scopus database was searched using relevant keywords, yielding 1,285 English-language documents across selected disciplines. Analysis was conducted using Biblioshiny in R, allowing for a detailed examination of collaboration networks, citation impact, and thematic structures. The findings reveal a sharp increase in publications after 2019, accompanied by significant international co-authorship and institutional contributions, led by the University of Johannesburg. Two dominant research clusters were identified: one focused on sustainability and energy transitions, and the other on smart cities, governance, and urban planning. These trends reflect growing academic attention to South Africa's transport challenges, though local research remains concentrated in a few institutions. The study highlights the need for more inclusive, applied, and context-specific research, particularly in the areas of informal transport and policy implementation. It offers an evidence base for guiding future work and supporting integrated planning. This is the first study to provide a longitudinal bibliometric review of this topic in South Africa, offering original insights into its development and direction.