A parliamentary committee has moved forward with plans to pursue criminal proceedings against Collins Letsoalo, the former head of the Road Accident Fund, following his absence from a scheduled inquiry session. The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) approved the measure by an 8-3 vote, directing the Secretary to Parliament to initiate the charge related to a summons issued in November 2025.
Correspondence from the Speaker of Parliament accompanied the committee’s decision, clarifying procedural requirements under the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act 2004. While the Speaker confirmed that formal concurrence was not statutorily mandated for the committee to proceed, she cautioned that legal complications could arise. Specifically, the Speaker noted that because the summons was not personally delivered to Letsoalo, any subsequent prosecution might face challenges in court.
Letsoalo has publicly responded to the developments, emphasizing his willingness to engage with parliamentary oversight while questioning the legitimacy of the current process. “I want to appear in parliament. But it must be a proper committee,” he stated. He contends that the inquiry operates under terms of reference that fall outside SCOPA’s jurisdiction as defined by Rule 245, which he says restricts the committee’s mandate to reviewing Auditor-General reports and audited financial statements.
On the matter of service, Letsoalo maintains that neither he nor his legal counsel received the summons through proper channels. He pointed to written correspondence from his attorneys requesting formal delivery, adding, “If they gave me the summons I would have interdicted that.” He characterized the current proceedings as an “unlawful process” he cannot endorse by participating.
Beyond procedural objections, Letsoalo raised substantive questions about the inquiry’s focus. He drew attention to a R30 million facility extended to the political party RISE Mzansi that was subsequently reclassified as a donation. He called for transparency regarding the original terms and repayment expectations, while also querying the origins of the funding. Letsoalo suggested potential connections between RISE Mzansi’s financiers and individuals who previously held leadership roles on SCOPA, implying broader implications for oversight of the RAF’s restructuring.
Financial performance metrics were also addressed. Letsoalo disputed characterizations of improved claims processing under current leadership, noting that monthly disbursements during his tenure averaged approximately R4.6 billion. He contrasted this with reported current payments of R4.2 billion monthly, stating, “They’re reversing. They’re going backwards.” He stressed that definitive assessments require Auditor-General verification of submitted financial statements.
On structural reform proposals, Letsoalo expressed skepticism about shifting to a third-party insurance model. Using available vehicle registration data—roughly 14 million vehicles nationally—he calculated that generating the RAF’s annual R48 billion requirement would necessitate levies exceeding R3,400 per vehicle. He described this as economically unfeasible for most South African motorists.
Compliance with immigration legislation featured in Letsoalo’s remarks as well. Citing sections 42, 44, and 495 of the Immigration Act, he stated that his administration enforced verification protocols for foreign nationals before processing claims—a practice he alleges has since been discontinued.
The Speaker’s correspondence further indicated that constitutional and legal services are undertaking a review of parliamentary summons authority under Section 56 of the Constitution. However, she explicitly noted this legislative assessment would not apply retroactively to the matter involving Letsoalo.
Letsoalo referenced a previous engagement with the Portfolio Committee on Transport, where he raised concerns about executive interference. He noted that despite assurances of a follow-up invitation, he has not been recalled to that forum. “What is right is serve me the summons,” he reiterated, adding, “I’m not afraid of anything.”
Should the criminal referral proceed and result in conviction, penalties could include imprisonment for up to 12 months. Letsoalo concluded his remarks by stating he “sleeps peacefully at night” regardless of the potential outcome.