The Portfolio Committee on Transport heard that the suspended CEO of the Road Accident Fund (RAF), Mr Collins Letsoalo, had provided the RAF board with papers notifying it of his suspension, the Portfolio Committee on Transport heard on Wednesday.
The Deputy Minister of Transport, Mr Mkhuleko Hlengwa, told the committee that he was made aware of the matter yesterday while meeting the board. Mr Hlengwa said the turn of events was making the engagement with the board difficult as there could be issues that were sub judice.
He appealed to the committee to tread carefully and not fuel the challenges facing the entity. “The situation at RAF is not good; it is not a light matter and a matter to be handled willy nilly for the material consequences it has for the organisation,” Mr Hlengwa said. He called for caution to direct matters in the right direction and not exacerbate further the challenges.
The committee Chairperson, Mr Donald Selamolela, informed the parties that if they had uneasiness with any of the issues raised in the meeting, they should note this.
The committee had earlier held an in-camera meeting following doubt about Mr Letsoalo’s attendance. However, based on legal advice from Parliament, it was agreed that the committee could call anyone to appear before it, as long as it was in pursuit of the committee’s mandate of conducting oversight.
The board placed Mr Letsoalo on suspension for insubordination related to “refusal to appear before the Standing Committee on Public Accounts meeting”. It is this decision of the board that he is challenging in court.
Sibongile Maputi
12 June 2025
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