The Democratic Alliance (DA) has accused the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) of blocking a parliamentary oversight visit to the Braamfontein yard at the centre of a R7.5 billion train refurbishment scandal.

DA deputy transport spokesperson, Thami Mabhena, said he and a group of Johannesburg DA councillors were denied entry despite presenting valid parliamentary credentials. The team intended to inspect the condition of PRASA’s rolling stock as part of a fact-finding mission into how billions in public funds have been spent.

The DA claims to have obtained images showing vandalised and abandoned train carriages, broken tracks, collapsed seats, carriages used to store waste, and filthy bathroom facilities. PRASA has already spent R2.5 billion refurbishing parts of its ageing yellow-and-grey fleet, with a further R5 billion budgeted. However, the agency told Parliament in June it no longer plans to spend the remaining funds.

Mabhena questioned why refurbished trains would be left to rot instead of serving commuters, warning that taxpayers are footing the bill for upgrades that never reach the public. He also cited media reports alleging that former PRASA executives resigned, then established private firms that later won refurbishment contracts, suggesting a potential network of cadre-linked enrichment.

The Auditor-General has raised concerns over the tender process and the suitability of the contractors involved. The DA says it will demand full accountability and that those implicated must face consequences.