RAF CEO
By Thabo Mosia
Suspended Road Accident Fund (RAF) Chief Executive Officer Collins Letsoalo used his appearance before the Portfolio Committee on Transport on Wednesday 11 June 2025 to deliver a fierce rebuttal against what he labelled “ministerial interference” and undue pressure from the Special Investigating Unit (SIU). In a pointed address, Letsoalo clarified that the issues plaguing RAF were “manmade” and politically motivated, not reflective of mismanagement.
⸻
🎯 Key Takeaways from Letsoalo’s Defense
✅ No Truly Unpaid Crisis — Manmade Psychosis
Letsoalo told MPs: “There’s no crisis at the RAF… you say it’s a psychosis.” He stated that RAF maintained an 85 % performance rate, matching entities like SAA, Transnet, and the SABC, all without a cent of financial bailout from Treasury.

🚦 Reforming Legal Cost Structures
He revealed bold reforms:
• Targeted R50 billion in legal and service cost savings, broken down as:
• R30 bn in legal fees saved,
• R14.5 bn in medical tariffs,
• R4 bn from scrapped foreign claimant payments.
• Negotiated a court suspension (Sec 45A) on high-cost payouts, focusing on oldest debts first.

🏢 R79 Million Lease Deal with Transparency Backing
Letsoalo defended the Parktown lease:
• Rejected a nine-year lease from Marble Towers due to safety, privacy, and co-tenancy concerns.
• Instead, opted for a government-to-government deal with Mowana Properties (GEPF–owned) at 10 Junction Ave, explaining that lease payments would stay within the State. The deal had internal board and National Treasury approval, and was audited with no findings.
 
He stressed he properly used CEO authority with bid evaluation committee advice intact.
⚖️ SIU Probe: Allegations and Political Timing
The SIU is investigating:
• R79m lease,
• R19m extended cleaning/security,
• R313m back‑log contract,
• R40m furniture tender,
• R5.3m vehicle leases.
  
Letsoalo criticised the leak of preliminary SIU findings, labelling it a smear campaign against his governance reforms.

🔐 Alleged Ministerial & Board Interference
Letsoalo publicly accused Deputy Minister of Transport Mkhuleko Hlengwa of orchestrating:
• Multiple letters warning the RAF board against his reappointment and directing suspension,
• The removal of his direct invitation to Parliament and “muzzling” his influence,
• Attempts to utilise Scopa against him after he exposed corruption.
 
He recalled being invited for a 360° performance review on 14 May—a sign his term was set for renewal—only for suspension letters to follow shortly thereafter.
🛡️ Threats to Safety & Legal Actions
Letsoalo spoke of serious security threats:
• Armed individuals stormed RAF offices in Centurion last year;
• Police intelligence linked threats to the taxi industry;
• He continues to use armed escorts.
 
He confirmed serving the RAF board with court papers challenging both his suspension and directives to return state vehicles (including armoured cars).

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