This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-47611496

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
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".