Road Accident Fund officials accused of obstructing SIU investigations

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has disclosed that its probe into the Road Accident Fund (RAF) has been repeatedly hampered by interference from fund officials.

The revelation came during the third day of a parliamentary inquiry into malfeasance at the RAF, held by Parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA).

The SIU's head, Advocate Andy Mothibi, told the committee that the unit has encountered several instances of interference and has since laid a criminal complaint against an executive for being non-cooperative.

The SIU's main point person at the RAF intended to assist investigators with information, is specifically accused of obstructing the investigation and ignoring a subpoena for information.

Mothibi stated that the SIU was forced to use its executive powers to lay the criminal complaint against the individual, who is reportedly still employed at the fund.

"There was an act or a push for us to withdraw the criminal case, which we resisted, and the criminal case was left standing; hopefully it’s being addressed," Mothibitold Scopa.

Advocate Mothibi also pointed a finger at former RAF CEO Collins Letsoalo for allegedly interfering in the investigations.

According to Mothibi, Letsoalo insisted that evidence from employees be run past him before being submitted to the SIU.

Mothibi quoted the directive, saying: "The members of RAF were being informed that their rights of reply have to go via the CEO’s office before they can be presented to the SIU.”

The SIU head confirmed that the RAF Board has been informed of these obstructions.

The parliamentary inquiry is scheduled to continue next week, with hearings set to resume on Tuesday to hear testimony from whistleblowers and other RAF employees.