ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa get a taste of what ordinary South Africans go through daily after being stuck on a commuter train

President Cyril Ramaphosa on a cummuter train
  • Ramaphosa was stuck on the train for three hours on a journey from Mabopane to Pretoria that should ordinarily have taken just 45 minutes.
  • Train delays are, however, a common occurrence in South Africa where millions of South Africa's railway users and some have lost jobs because of late arrivals at work.
  • After his ordeal, Ramaphosa warned that the national rail operator, Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa), had to act to improve the situation "otherwise heads will roll".

On Monday, South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa got a taste of what ordinary South Africans go through daily.

The head of State and other passengers found himself stuck on a commuter train for several hours, giving him a first-hand experience into the daily reality for thousands of commuters just two months ahead of the May polls.

Ramaphosa was stuck on the train for three hours on a journey from Mabopane to Pretoria that should ordinarily have taken just 45 minutes.

"It is unacceptable," President Ramaphosa said after the train reached its destination.

ADVERTISEMENT

After his ordeal, Ramaphosa warned that the national rail operator, Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa), had to act to improve the situation "otherwise heads will roll".

It is unacceptable that a trip of 50km (30 miles) can take us three hours and it must come to an end. We are going to talk to Prasa to get things right or otherwise heads must roll,” Ramaphosa said.

Prasa is the national rail agency.

ADVERTISEMENT

The delay to the train the president caught in Gauteng Province was caused by another train that had to stop after its driver was hit by a stone which had been thrown at him, a Prasa spokesman said.

Train delays are, however, a common occurrence in South Africa where millions of South Africa's railway users and some have lost jobs because of late arrivals at work, according to BBC's Milton Nkosi in Johannesburg.

Angered commuters have even set trains alight.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng

Recommended articles

7 do's and don’ts of the Holy month of Ramadan

7 do's and don’ts of the Holy month of Ramadan

Top 5 sweetest celebrity mother-child relationships that stand out for us

Top 5 sweetest celebrity mother-child relationships that stand out for us

International Women's Day: 5 Nigerian female celebrities championing women’s rights

International Women's Day: 5 Nigerian female celebrities championing women’s rights

Top 5 female directors in Nollywood

Top 5 female directors in Nollywood

6 things that will break a Muslim's fast during Ramadan

6 things that will break a Muslim's fast during Ramadan

5 benefits of fasting during Ramadan

5 benefits of fasting during Ramadan

Dos and don’ts of supporting Muslims during Ramadan

Dos and don’ts of supporting Muslims during Ramadan

Here are common things people rarely dream about

Here are common things people rarely dream about

5 young women who embody Y2K and alte fashion

5 young women who embody Y2K and alte fashion

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT