Pretoria: Chief Executive Officer of the Road Accident Fund (RAF), Collins Letsoalo, has been placed on special leave with immediate effect. In a statement, the Department of Transport announced that Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa, acting as the delegated shareholder representative, was informed by the RAF board regarding Letsoalo’s special leave.
According to South African Government News Agency, the decision was made during a special meeting held on Tuesday, 27 May. The CEO will remain on special leave until the conclusion of investigations by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), or until an earlier date determined by the board. The department emphasized that this is a precautionary measure and not an indication of disciplinary action or a presumption of guilt.
The statement clarified that the decision was driven by a commitment to good governance and the need to facilitate ongoing investigations. It underscored that there is no implication of prejudgment or adverse findings against Letsoalo. The board’s actions are rooted in its fiduciary duties according to the Road Accident Fund Act of 1996, the Public Finance Management Act of 1999, and the principles of good governance as outlined in King IV.
During this period, Phathutshedzo Lukhwareni will take over as the Acting Chief Executive Officer to ensure the continuity of RAF operations. Deputy Minister Hlengwa has scheduled a board meeting for 09 June 2025 to address this matter further.