Dear Editor
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is deeply concerned by the political circus that unfolded during a special sitting of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Transport on Wednesday evening. What should have been a focused and serious engagement on the crisis engulfing the Road Accident Fund (RAF) was derailed by opportunistic political interference enabled by the ANC Chairperson, under pressure from the EFF, and supported by MK Party and ActionSA.
The DA will:
- Submit a formal complaint to the Speaker of the National Assembly, requesting a review of the Chairperson’s conduct and whether it violated parliamentary norms by allowing a suspended official to speak in a manner that undermines the authority of a board-appointed executive.
- Call for a reaffirmation of committee protocol, to ensure that suspended officials cannot be politically parachuted into oversight meetings to distort facts, attack governance structures, or discredit boards under cover of parliamentary privilege.
At the centre of this debacle was the controversial presence of the RAF’s suspended CEO, Collins Letsoalo reportedly suspended for failing to appear before SCOPA regarding an ongoing SIU investigation. Despite his suspension by the RAF Board, the PCoT Chairperson allowed Letsoalo to remain in the meeting and ultimately address Members after the Deputy Minister, RAF Board and Executive had left, following sustained pushback from the DA.
This move, which flew in the face of good governance and accountability, appeared designed to grant a suspended official a platform to undermine the leadership of the Board and evade proper scrutiny. The DA refused to legitimise this farce and staged a principled walkout from the meeting once Letsoalo was given the floor.
We strongly condemn the Chairperson’s failure to protect the integrity of the Committee. This incident was not about transparency; it was about protecting vested interests and frustrating accountability. South Africans deserve a Parliament that resists manipulation.
The DA remains committed to upholding the rule of law, defending proper governance, and restoring Parliament’s credibility as a watchdog not a stage for suspended executives and political disruption.
Regards
Thami Mabhena MP
DA Deputy Spokesperson on Transport