Dear Editor
The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the announcement made today by the Deputy Minister of Transport at the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) that Mr Collins Letsoalo, CEO of the Road Accident Fund (RAF), has been placed on precautionary special leave.
This is a long-overdue but necessary step to ensure that the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) can conduct its preliminary investigation without interference or influence.
Mr Letsoalo’s temporary removal from office must facilitate full transparency and accountability, particularly in light of serious allegations concerning the RAF’s governance failures, financial mismanagement, and possible misconduct.
We note that Mr Phathu Lukwareni has been appointed interim CEO while the investigation proceeds. The Ministry of Transport’s support for this decision is encouraging and must be followed by full cooperation with SCOPA and law enforcement agencies.
We further note that the Chairperson of the RAF Board is also under scrutiny, particularly in relation to ongoing failures of governance and a refusal to comply with parliamentary oversight requests. Allegations that the CEO may have misled Parliament about his vetting status only deepen our concerns.
It is time for RAF to be subjected to rigorous institutional reform, beginning with full disclosure and accountability at the highest levels.
The DA will continue to push for:
- Confirmation and fast-racking of the vetting status of senior RAF leadership by State Security; and
- Transparency in the SIU’s investigation timeline and scope.
The Road Accident Fund exists to serve the victims of road crashes not to enrich a few, hide the truth, or avoid oversight. The precautionary suspension of the CEO is just the beginning. The DA will not rest until justice and good governance are restored at the RAF.
Regards
Dr Chris Hunsinger MP
DA Spokesperson on Transport