Derailed - how Prasa fixes trains and then leave them to rot, with Sipho Masondo

Loading player...
Remember those old yellow and grey Metrorail trains? The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) is shelling out billions of your tax money to refurbish them. But instead of ferrying people to and from work, they’re being left to rot in train stockyards across the country. News24 investigative journalist Sipho Masondo is pushing to figure out why PRASA is fixing the old trains but not utilising them: “When former Prasa executives sent this memo to the former minister, Fikile Mbalula, Prasa was already receiving these new (blue and white) trains from Gibela. What is the business rationale behind this?” Later in the show, we look at a hero’s attempt to save a family of seven from a shack fire. And finally, News24 Life debunks the viral claims that cheating could land you behind bars. Mail your comments and voice notes to thelead@24.com. Editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube. 
26 May English South Africa News · Society & Culture

Other recent episodes

The big, beautiful Trump tariff explainer with William Brederode

In less than a month, South African produce and products being shipped to America will face remarkably higher tariffs. This came after US President Donald Trump signed a letter to Pretoria, stating that 30% tariffs on certain South African exports will be effective from 1 August. President Cyril Ramaphosa, currently…
8 Jul 38 min

Is the SAPS captured? With Jeff Wicks

The gloves are off. In a startling Sunday press conference, KwaZulu-Natal’s provincial police commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, publicly claimed that the heart of the South African Police Service (SAPS) has been captured. Mkhwanazi alleges that Minister Senzo Mchunu has ties to the underworld and, together with deputy national commissioner Shadrack Sibiya…
7 Jul 22 min

Charting the DA and ANC’s GNU collision course with Jan Gerber

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s surprise axing of DA deputy minister Andrew Whitfield has again set the cat among the government of national unity’s (GNU) pigeons. First, the DA issued the ANC an ultimatum: fire all ministers accused of corruption or forfeit its friendly budget vote. Since then, the DA has singled out two…
2 Jul 33 min