Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) has resolved to subpoena former Road Accident Fund (RAF) chief executive Collins Letsoalo after he repeatedly failed to respond to invitations to appear before the committee — escalating Parliament’s investigation into the RAF’s deepening financial and governance crisis.
In a statement issued on Friday, SCOPA confirmed it had unanimously agreed to issue a summons to Letsoalo after Parliament’s Legal Advisor, Fatima Ebrahim, reported that he had failed to respond to a final letter offering him the chance to appear voluntarily before the committee in late November.
The decision means Letsoalo will now be compelled by law to testify before Parliament under the Powers, Privileges and Immunities Act of 2004 — a move committee chairperson Songezo Zibi described as a last resort.
“The information the committee seeks is within Mr Letsoalo’s personal knowledge and cannot be obtained by other means,” Zibi said, adding that several witnesses had made claims that fairness required Letsoalo be given an opportunity to respond.
Zibi said he will now write to National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza to seek her concurrence before the subpoena is formally issued. Once approved, the summons will be served by the Secretary to Parliament.
Zibi: ‘A broken RAF means people stranded between injury and dignity’
Earlier this week, spoke to Zibi as part of its in-depth investigation titled “Inside the RAF: The R500bn black hole and how the Road Accident Fund fell apart.” In that interview, Zibi warned that the RAF’s financial position has become unsustainable, with liabilities ballooning to more than R518 billion against assets of just R33 billion.
“A broken RAF means people stranded between injury and dignity,” Zibi told , saying the fund’s current model — reliant on the fuel levy and lump-sum payouts — “is not sustainable in its present form.”
“The RAF exists for victims of road accidents. It’s not meant to enrich legal representatives or administrators. Reform is necessary if we are to restore fairness and dignity to claimants.”
Zibi said Letsoalo’s testimony would be crucial to understanding the decisions and management failures that led to the RAF’s financial collapse, particularly during his tenure as CEO.
RAF’s R500bn crisis under the spotlight
The Road Accident Fund, which compensates victims of road crashes, has been under intense scrutiny over claims backlogs, alleged maladministration, and questionable procurement practices. Under Letsoalo’s leadership, the RAF was hit by multiple controversies — including expensive office leases, large legal bills, and delayed claim settlements that have left thousands of victims without compensation for years.
As revealed in ’s earlier investigation, insiders estimate the fund’s liabilities exceed half a trillion rand, sparking fears that the RAF could become insolvent without urgent intervention. The article detailed how procurement irregularities, staff turmoil, and costly litigation have drained the fund’s coffers.
SCOPA has been probing the RAF’s finances and internal governance for months, hearing testimony from current and former executives. Several witnesses have directly implicated Letsoalo in procurement and financial decisions that have raised red flags with both the Auditor-General and National Treasury.
Subpoena seen as major escalation
SCOPA members said compelling Letsoalo’s appearance was unavoidable given the seriousness of the issues under investigation. If he appears, his evidence is expected to play a central role in shaping SCOPA’s final report to the National Assembly, which will include findings and recommendations on how to restore accountability at the fund.
“Several witnesses have made averments that fairness demands Mr Letsoalo is given an opportunity to respond,” Zibi said in Friday’s statement. “His insights as CEO of the RAF will also assist the committee to reach well-informed conclusions and recommendations.”
If Letsoalo fails to comply with the subpoena once issued, Parliament could pursue further legal action under the Powers and Privileges Act.
What happens next
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The Speaker of the National Assembly must approve SCOPA’s request before the summons is served.
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Once served, Letsoalo will be legally bound to appear before SCOPA to give evidence under oath.
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The committee is expected to finalise its RAF inquiry report by early 2026.
Meanwhile, the RAF continues to face growing financial pressure and litigation challenges — with insiders warning that the fund’s long-term solvency remains in doubt.
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