The Portfolio Committee on Transport has resolved to continue with its follow-up meeting with the RAF board in the presence of the suspended Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Collins Letsoalo. The committee met with the Department of Transport and Road Accident Fund (RAF) yesterday on a follow-up briefing on matters of concern arising from the meeting on 3 June 2025.
One of the members of the committee, Mr Thamsanqa Mabhena, questioned the legality of having a meeting with RAF in the presence of the suspended Mr Letsoalo. He said that having a meeting with a suspended official had never happened before in Parliament. He also said the committee does not have powers to interfere with the decisions of the board.
The Chairperson of the committee, Mr Donald Selamolela, clarified that the committee made the decision to invite Mr Letsoalo in its previous meeting, and that he had sought legal advice on the matter. “Parliament’s Legal Services advised that the committee can invite anyone in pursuit of its mandate of oversight. There was nothing in law or rules that stopped the committee from inviting Mr Letsoalo.”
The committee had opted for an in-camera meeting where the majority of members of the committee resolved to continue with the meeting, as Mr Letsoalo’s presence there was a committee decision. Mr Mabhena registered that his party did not support the presence of Mr Letsoalo and the board in the same meeting.
The Deputy Minister of the Department of Transport, Mr Mkhuleko Hlengwa, led the departmental delegation together with the RAF board Chairperson. They were there to account on matters that were raised at the last meeting of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts.
Mr Selamolela said he was aware that events had overtaken the meeting, and that the CEO was appealing his suspension in court. Mr Letsoalo was placed on special leave, a decision that was rescinded into a full suspension, charged for insurbodination for “refusal to appear before SCOPA”. Mr Letsoalo is contesting the board’s decision.
Sibongile Maputi
12 June 2025
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