Suspended RAF official lifts lid on culture of fear under former CEO Letsoalo

A Road Accident Fund (RAF) official who has been on suspension for 15 months told Parliament’s oversight inquiry that she was relieved to walk out of the organisation.

She appeared alongside communications head, McIntosh Polela, who told the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) on Wednesday that he was forced by former CEO, Collins Letsoalo, to suspend Hlami Mathye, before he could determine the veracity of the claims against her.

Mathye said it was only after an interim board was appointed in August that she’d finally been charged on allegations related to a R23 million media contract.

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Mathye was the fourth witness to testify before the inquiry this week of a culture of fear under the tenure of Letsoalo that saw scores of employees suspended and dismissed.

Mathye said the media had been fed a story that the organisation was weeding out corrupt employees who'd been colluding with lawyers.

"This was a well-oiled machine. It was an ecosystem that worked perfectly. We are creating a demand of law firms that we bring to the table, and we say: 'Investigate these people.'"

Mathye said the anxiety and toxicity many had experienced in the organisation should be blamed on government.

"My suspension journey didn’t start on the 2nd of May 2024. It started on that fateful day when the ANC government failed us."

Mathye said the RAF’s employee relations department had a lot to answer for and should not be allowed to hide behind the decisions of the former CEO.