Scopa chair boosts security ahead of RAF inquiry

CAPE TOWN – Chairperson of Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) Songezo Zibi has revealed that he has had to "mobilise private security" as the committee prepares to start its inquiry into the Road Accident Fund (RAF).

During a preparatory meeting on Friday, Zibi said while he had not been directly threatened, he is being regularly tailed.

He says a security threat assessment was carried out after he was observed receiving information from someone, and then he was secretly photographed in meetings with a deputy finance minister.

“I haven’t received a threat. But there are people who follow me. That we now know for certain. We know the car and so on.” Zibi said.

Scopa has resolved to start its inquiry into the RAF on October 07, 2025, but Zibi says whistleblowers, which include former employees, are fearful of testifying.

Scopa has received 89 written submissions providing information to assist its RAF inquiry.

But Zibi says the inquiry will be limited to probing financial losses at the fund and annot consider claims or complaints.

In the absence of adequate legislative protection for whistleblowers, Zibi says potential key witnesses are reluctant to participate in open hearings.

“People are feeling afraid because of what happens to auditors and other whistleblowers in the country, which I think is a reasonable fear,” Zibi said.

Of the submissions received by the committee, ten per cent of them are anonymous, while another five per cent used a pseudonym.