Former Road Accident Fund CEO, Collins Lestoalo. Image: ActionSA
(The Post News) – SCOPA has decided to request permission from the Speaker of the National Assembly to proceed with criminal charges. They aim to lay a criminal charge against former RAF CEO Collins Letsoalo.
He failed to appear before Parliament after being summoned.
This is after he failed to appear before the committee on Tuesday and Wednesday.
SCOPA to Lay Criminal Charges
Committee chairperson, Songezo Zibi, said parliament issued a summons to Letsoalo earlier this month.
“The summons instructed him to appear before SCOPA on 25 and 26 November 2025. He needed to answer questions for purposes of SCOPA’s Oversight Enquiry into the RAF. The sheriff made several attempts to serve this summons at Mr Letsoalo’s known addresses, but each attempt failed. The summons was eventually served via a substituted service. It was published on social media and sent by email. Additionally, the Sheriff affixed it to the door,” he said.
Zibi also said the Powers, Privileges, and Immunities Act gives Parliament clear authority. It can summon any person to appear before it. They are required to provide evidence under oath and submit documents when required.
“Late on Tuesday, 25 November 2025, his attorney sent the committee a cease and desist letter. In it, he asserted that the committee does not have the authority to conduct the inquiry. Should the Speaker concur with the committee, criminal charges will be laid,” he said.
Letsoalo Rejects SCOPA’s Authority
In a SABC interview, Letsoalo clarified this situation. The committee does not have the authority to look into the affairs of the Road Accident Fund (RAF).
“Because that is exclusively the competency of PCOT, the Portfolio Committee on Transport. You would see it in Rule 227—it’s oversight. They maintain oversight. That is an inquiry that is supposed to be done by the Portfolio Committee.
“And of course, the Standing Committee on Finance can also exercise those powers of 227. That is in Rule 232. So Rule 245—there is nothing that says oversight there. It states that SCOPA reviews financials when submitted to Parliament. It does not focus on some story about people complaining about this and that,” he said.
He added that he never received the summons and will not appear before the committee.
“I’m not going to that kangaroo court. In it, Songezo Zibi performs multiple roles. He is the Chairperson, the Evidence Leader, and the Interrogator. He is also the Witness Selector and the Adjudicator. Have you ever seen something like that? You arrive there, and people start asking questions about things people were saying; some malicious details about this and that. I’m not interested in that. South Africans want to know—call a proper forum. I will go there, and I’ll account. There’s nothing I can’t account for. These guys are interested in nothing about the RAF,” he said.
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