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

The Daveyton Muti Murders Finale

NOTE: Listener’s discretion is strongly advised. “That’s how cruel people are,” says Ndeni Mntungwa, surveying the littered wetland of Yende Park in central Daveyton, where he found his son Jabulani’s mutilated body nine years ago. And then, about a year after this murder, the body of Wandile Jasop was found as…
4 Sep 39 min

The Daveyton Muti Murders Part 2

NOTE: Listener’s discretion is strongly advised. In Part 2 of News24’s narrative podcast investigation, The Daveyton Muti Murders, we honour the memory of budding Wits University student, Wandile Jasop, and detail a deeply disturbing cycle of extreme violence unfolding in the historic Ekurhuleni town in the late 2010s. Reported over nearly six…
28 Aug 23 min

TRAILER: The Daveyton Muti Murders - a News24 narrative podcast investigation

News24 this Sunday, 23 August, brings you The Daveyton Muti Murders, a three-part narrative podcast investigation into the historical Ekurhuleni town’s disturbing history of ritual killings. The saga begins with Jabulani Mntungwa, a 20-year-old aspiring young man who leaves his sleepy hometown of eMkhondo for the bright lights of Gauteng’s…
21 Aug 1 min

The Daveyton Muti Murders Part 1

NOTE: Listener’s discretion is strongly advised. News24 this Sunday brings you The Daveyton Muti Murders, a three-part narrative podcast investigation into the historical Ekurhuleni town’s disturbing history of ritual killings. The saga begins with Jabulani Mntungwa, a 20-year-old aspiring young man who leaves his sleepy hometown of eMkhondo for the bright…
21 Aug 23 min

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
All episodes