EPISODE · Apr 20, 2026 · 24 MIN
Dark clouds gather over SA’s largest solar project, with Azarrah Karrim
from The Lead · host News24
It's a multibillion-rand solar panel farm, said to be the most ambitious of its kind on African soil, all to boost our rehabilitated energy grid. Yet, in her investigations, News24 journalist Azarrah Karrim has unearthed a series of alleged red flags in the Chinese state company-led construction of the Virginia Solar Park, a two-hour drive from Bloemfontein. From alleged B-BBEE fronting to claims of serious labour violations, there's plenty to answer for in this edition of The Lead. Later, in our trending topic, prosecutors push to keep controversial police sergeant, Fannie Nkosi, behind bars. Finally, 123 people perished in a Boeing 707 plane crash in Namibia, on This Day in SA History, our regular segment. Comment below and send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note: 072 562 3179. To advertise: [email protected]. Full editions drop on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube. The show is fully produced, presented and edited by Raubenheimer and quality-checked by News24's editors.
What this episode covers
It's a multibillion-rand solar panel farm, said to be the most ambitious of its kind on African soil, all to boost our rehabilitated energy grid. Yet, in her investigations, News24 journalist Azarrah Karrim has unearthed a series of alleged red flags in the Chinese state company-led construction of the Virginia Solar Park, a two-hour drive from Bloemfontein. From alleged B-BBEE fronting to claims of serious labour violations, there's plenty to answer for in this edition of The Lead. Later, in our trending topic, prosecutors push to keep controversial police sergeant, Fannie Nkosi, behind bars. Finally, 123 people perished in a Boeing 707 plane crash in Namibia, on This Day in SA History, our regular segment. Comment below and send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note: 072 562 3179. To advertise: [email protected]. Full editions drop on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube. The show is fully produced, presented and edited by Raubenheimer and quality-checked by News24's editors.
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Dark clouds gather over SA’s largest solar project, with Azarrah Karrim
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