Parliament Slams New RAF Board For Suspending Executives Ahead Of Accountability Hearing

The new board of the Road Accident Fund (RAF) has come under fire from Parliament’s Transport Portfolio Committee for suspending four senior executives just days before they were scheduled to answer questions on the fund’s troubled finances.

The suspensions, announced last Friday, included that of the chief financial officer and acting chief executive officer.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Stuart Scharnick To File Case Against Dumisani Khumalo Over Madlanga Commission Testimony

Several Members of Parliament (MPs) argued that the timing appeared calculated to protect the executives from facing accountability after the RAF disclosed a staggering R2.3 billion deficit for the past financial year.

However, board chairperson Kenneth Brown defended the decision, saying the board would have failed in its duty had it not acted swiftly given the level of maladministration uncovered.

RAF Board Defends Action Amid Corruption Allegations

“The suspensions were a long time coming,” Brown told the committee, adding that the board had begun uncovering what he described as “egregious acts”.

He stressed that the decision was not made hastily. “We don’t want to be seen just acting willy-nilly. It is not as if last week we just took a decision that we were going to do it.”

According to Brown, the suspensions were implemented to ensure an unhindered investigation. He further offered to return to Parliament to present the board’s findings and outline the extent of alleged corruption.

“We will tell you the level of corruption that’s within this organisation. We will tell you the corrective steps that we are taking, we will give you the vision,” he said.

MPs Question Interim CEO Appointment

Committee members also raised concerns over the legality of appointing Victor Songelwa, a former acting chief financial officer, as the interim CEO.

Last month, Songelwa testified before Parliament’s inquiry into maladministration at the fund, claiming he had been sidelined by the former CEO, Collins Letsoalo, and forced to leave before his contract expired in September.

Rise Mzansi MP Makashule Gana questioned the sequence of events, saying the recent suspensions and subsequent appointment of Songelwa “did not add up”.

---

For More, Follow SurgeZirc SA On  Facebook, X,  Instagram and Bluesky