WATCH: Ramaphosa stuck on train to Bosman train station

A train from Mabopane train station to Pretoria CBD (Bosman station) has been delayed. The train was carrying President Cyril Ramaphosa, a few ANC officials, and the ANC’s head of elections, Fikile Mbalula, who were campaigning for the party on Monday morning.

WATCH LIVE: Pres @CyrilRamaphosa is on a metrorail train from Soshanguve to Pretoria #GrowSouthAfrica #ThumaMin https://t.co/iJDfHRRd2O

— African National Congress (@MYANC) March 18, 2019

The overcrowding inside the train, a reality for most commuters, appears to have dawned on Ramaphosa, who described it as a harrowing learning experience.

“This is very bad,” said Ramaphosa during the delay as he interacted with the commuters to discuss some of their grievances.

https://twitter.com/TshwaneANC/status/1107556335577632768

Some of the commuters, who had been on the train for almost three hours on a journey that was expected to have only taken 45 minutes, began jumping off the train in an effort to get to their destinations on time. They can be seen walking on the train tracks as the train was stationary on Technikon Rant Station.

Ramaphosa spoke to one of the train conductors in an effort to get some clarity on when the train would move. The conductor appeared to have no definite answers.

Frustrated commuters Including President Cyril Ramaphosa have been on this train for almost 3 hours in a journey that is suppose to have been 45 minutes. The train had stopped and no reason is given and now commuters are beginning to be impatient and agitated #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/sDG0p4rfJc

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— Ntebo Mokobo (@MokoboNtebo) March 18, 2019

NOW commuters resort to jumping off the stuck train …

The Pres is still in the train … It is ROUGH. What will Prasa say? @eNCA pic.twitter.com/WRtAvbbW0S

— Aldrin Sampear (@AldrinSampear) March 18, 2019

President @CyrilRamaphosa takes a Metro- rail train from Soshanguve to Pretoria #GrowSouthAfrica #Thuma pic.twitter.com/Bn1sPLk5Sc

— African National Congress (@MYANC) March 18, 2019

EARLIER: President @CyrilRamaphosa speaks to the metro- rail train conductor #GrowSouthAfrica #Thuma pic.twitter.com/n2Oh2QhluA

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— African National Congress (@MYANC) March 18, 2019

Social media was abuzz at the news that the president’s train ride, which was in an effort to beat the traffic, was delayed by more than an hour. They, however, criticised the president for his effort to reach out to potential voters only when it was close to voting season.

https://twitter.com/Thabisoo_T/status/1107547604081090562

Reporters waiting for the president at the Bosman train station claimed they had been waiting for close to two hours.

This thing of @CyrilRamaphosa getting on railway trains when it's election season is traumatising and it's not nice, is the 8th of May tomorrow morning?

— Thando (@TdoWorldWide) March 18, 2019

https://twitter.com/TshwaneANC/status/1107523539068993537

The president must solve this problems of Prasa people are traveling with trains without Windows, always late everyday sometimes no trains at all but the sell tickets to commuters without delivering the services

— PrinceMuzila (@muzila_prince) March 18, 2019

https://twitter.com/TshwaneANC/status/1107537544525303808

#RR #SouthAfrica #Politics #ANC #Ramaphosa

[Happening now]@MYANC: WATCH LIVE: President @CyrilRamaphosa takes a Metro- rail train from Soshanguve to Pretoria #GrowSouthAfrica #Thuma https://t.co/V0675ElZv2 pic.twitter.com/wtNSDBb4Vv

— Dr Rafiq Raji (@DrRafiqRaji) March 18, 2019

Meanwhile, Deputy President David Mabuza – expected to take a train from Atteridgeville Train Station – was delayed due to an alleged altercation. A train driver was allegedly assaulted by commuters.

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