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South Africa's President Ramaphosa gets stuck on train | South Africa's President Ramaphosa gets stuck on train |
(32 minutes later) | |
South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa may have hoped that joining the morning commute would mark him out as a man of the people ahead of elections in May. | South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa may have hoped that joining the morning commute would mark him out as a man of the people ahead of elections in May. |
That plan has either backfired or worked, depending on how you view it. | That plan has either backfired or worked, depending on how you view it. |
He and other passengers were stuck on a train for four hours on a journey that should have taken 45 minutes. | He and other passengers were stuck on a train for four hours on a journey that should have taken 45 minutes. |
"It is unacceptable," President Ramaphosa said after the train reached its destination. | "It is unacceptable," President Ramaphosa said after the train reached its destination. |
He said the national rail operator, Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa), had to act to improve the situation "otherwise heads will roll". | He said the national rail operator, Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa), had to act to improve the situation "otherwise heads will roll". |
Train delays are a daily frustration for millions of South Africa's railway users and some have lost jobs because of late arrivals at work, says the BBC's Milton Nkosi in Johannesburg. | Train delays are a daily frustration for millions of South Africa's railway users and some have lost jobs because of late arrivals at work, says the BBC's Milton Nkosi in Johannesburg. |
Angered commuters have even set trains alight, our reporter adds. | Angered commuters have even set trains alight, our reporter adds. |
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. | 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. |
He also blamed "ongoing and sustained attack on our rail infrastructure by… thugs". | He also blamed "ongoing and sustained attack on our rail infrastructure by… thugs". |
President Ramaphosa earlier put on a brave face, seen here smiling inside the train carriage: | President Ramaphosa earlier put on a brave face, seen here smiling inside the train carriage: |
Journalists following the president on the campaign trail tweeted footage and pictures from the scene, where he chatted with commuters: | Journalists following the president on the campaign trail tweeted footage and pictures from the scene, where he chatted with commuters: |
Mr Ramaphosa was hoping to canvass votes for the governing African National Congress (ANC) which he leads after replacing Jacob Zuma last year. | |
A reporter based in Johannesburg wondered whether the spectacle was "the greatest-ever metaphor for South Africa". | |
While an opposition politician quipped: "New driver, same broken old train". |
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