When Les Labuschagne was called to a meeting at Transnet Freight Rail’s offices just before lockdown, he hoped it was to get the signed piece of paper that would allow his company to start running steam trains on the network of railways that encircle Pretoria.

Instead he was told that Wonder Steam Trains, the tourist train operation and his fellow directors had spent two years — and R5m — working on, was to be put out to tender.

“I thought the main subject of the meeting was to be about where our access agreement was,” said Labuschagne...