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the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) is under fire for continuing its R7.5 billion General Overhaul program to refurbish obsolete trains. The Democratic Alliance (DA) says the initiative, already R3.5 billion deep, has produced rusting, vandalized carriages across depots — and demands that all spending be halted pending investigations.
What Happened?
PRASA’s General Overhaul (GO) program was launched to restore old trains. However, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy confirmed in response to a DA parliamentary question that the agency has not suspended the project — despite admitting it is no longer fit for purpose.
The DA’s Shadow Deputy Minister of Transport, Thami Mabhena, said it is unacceptable that taxpayers are funding a dead-end project while commuters remain stranded.
PRASA has already spent R3.5 billion, but most of the refurbished trains remain idle and deteriorating in Braamfontein and other depots nationwide.
Official Response
DA and the Public Protector has launched a full investigation into the GO contracts following a formal complaint about irregularities and conflicts of interest at Board level.
The DA also revealed major discrepancies in PRASA’s reported figures. In June 2025, the Board told Parliament that R2.5 billion had been spent, but by September 2025, that figure had ballooned to R3.5 billion — a R1 billion gap that raises serious questions about credibility and oversight.
The party insists that if PRASA refuses to halt the spending, Minister Creecy must intervene immediately.
Community Impact
For millions of South African commuters, this scandal deepens frustration with unreliable rail services. PRASA’s delays and decaying infrastructure have already pushed many workers to rely on costly and unsafe alternative transport.
Experts warn that redirecting the R7.5 billion towards the roll-out of new “People’s Trains” — part of PRASA’s modern fleet strategy — would have a far greater impact on public mobility and safety.
