News24 The Lead

Denel sends US firm 2 old jets allegedly without ejector seats

Loading player...
State-owned arms manufacturer Denel, known for developing world-renowned defence weaponry, including the Casspir armoured vehicle and the Rooivalk attack helicopter, has been battling to stay financially afloat in recent years, despite government bailouts. And now a jet deal it struck with a US firm has seemingly soured, too. Bringing The Lead this exclusive story today is business journalist Jan Cronje. Cronje details how Denel’s 2017 contract was to sell Draken International 12 jets, but according to Draken’s court papers, it only received three jets, two of which apparently didn’t have ejector seats! Later in the show, a kidnapped Gqeberha woman is safely reunited with her family. Also, celebrated thespian Dr John Kani now has the honour of handing out Oscars. Finally, The Lead pauses to remember the late great broadcaster and political journalist, Tshidi Madia. You can send host Graeme Raubenheimer a voice note with your questions or thoughts on this episode to: +27 72 562 3179. Mail your comments to: thelead@24.com. Editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.  
Chapters
  • 00:01 Graeme's intro
  • 01:56 Interview with Jan Cronje
  • 24:38 Trending topic: Kidnapped Gqeberha woman safely home
  • 25:31 AD: News24's The Weekender
  • 25:59 And finally: Dr John Kani becomes Oscar judge
  • 27:04 Condolences to all who loved Tshidi Madia
  • 27:27 Graeme's outro
27 Aug 2025 English South Africa News · Society & Culture

Other recent episodes

Digesting the anti-immigrant marches, with Bongekile Macupe, Sakhiseni Nxumalo

In this edition of The Lead with Graeme Raubenheimer, we assess the immediate aftermath of the June 30th anti-immigration marches with News24’s deputy politics editor, Bongekile Macupe, and Durban journalist, Sakhiseni Nxumalo. Macupe witnessed firsthand how pockets of violence took over the mass demonstration in Johannesburg, while Nxumalo observed a…
1 Jul 40 min

What happens after 30 June’s anti-migrant marches? With Sakhiseni Nxumalo

With the clock ticking on the 30 June “deadline” set by anti-migrant groups, will peace prevail as marchers take to the streets this Tuesday? With so many foreigners queuing up in Durban and other parts of the country, to somehow find a way home, what happens then when this cutoff comes…
29 Jun 30 min

Emfuleni’s by-election won’t fix its worsening service delivery crisis

In a preview for the November municipal polls, the people of Beverly Hills in Evaton in the Vaal municipal district of Emfuleni are voting for a new ward councillor this Wednesday. This outcome may not change much, though, argues roving journalist Ntwagaae Seleka, because the service delivery crisis throughout Emfuleni…
27 May 33 min

Return to the Bellville South house of horrors

In this edition, The Lead returns to the Bellville South house of horrors with News24 court and crime journalist, Lisalee Solomons. She reports that 63-year-old Aletta Rose, the murder convict accused of decapitating her Cape Town sister in March, has been giving court and remand prison authorities a headache. Rose, who now…
20 May 26 min

PowerBall? The lotto king’s curious business ties

The licence to operate the Lotto is about to change hands to Sizekhaya Holdings, not without claims of alleged misconduct by those left out of the ultra-lucrative tender. The man steering that outfit is Moses Tembe, a figure who's in business with at least three others precariously close to Deputy…
18 May 39 min
All episodes