Criminally prosecute former Road Accident Fund CEO, Collins Letsoalo - ActionSA

ActionSA is calling for the criminal prosecution of former Road Accident Fund (RAF) CEO Collins Letsoalo for ignoring a subpoena from Parliament.

A party statement reads: "Letsoalo’s snub comes as the Standing Committee on Public Accounts probes deep-seated financial mismanagement at the RAF.

"His testimony is central to understanding the cancellation of the panel of attorneys, irregular executive appointments, questionable expenditure, and the RAF’s ongoing dispute with the Auditor-General. A refusal to appear under these circumstances is an extraordinary attempt to evade scrutiny."

ActionSA MP and SCOPA member, Alan Beesley, said it's important that a precedent isn't set here.

"Parliament is meant to have an oversight of all these state entities and public funding so it's hugely concerning... If somebody gets summoned to attend Parliament, they must. If they don't attend then they're in breach in terms of the Privileges Act and then they must face the consequences."

Beesley said it's also very disappointing for many South Africans who have been hugely impacted by the non-performance of the Road Accident Fund.

"And all South Africans, we put in our fuel... the cost of fuel includes R2 a litre that goes to the Road Accident Fund. And he as the CEO of the Road Accident Fund needs to come and give account as to where that money disappeared to under his watch."

Does Letsoalo have a right to say SCOPA isn't the correct committee to investigate, and that it should be Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Transport?

"No, not at all, it's part of SCOPA, but before the summons was issued the legal representatives of the Speaker, the committee on transport and of SCOPA, sat and they identified SCOPA was the correct vehicle. Everybody is in concurrence. The only one who is not in concurrence is Mr Letsoalo."

What is the process for him to be criminally charged?

"In terms of the (Powers and Privileges) act he's subject to a fine and imprisonment...

"You know I've only been in Parliament for this 7th administration, only a couple of years in politics. I think one of the big concerns is that Parliament is all talk and no action. You know we've had so many commissions, so many inquiries, Parliament says all these things but nothing happens.

And it's time for people who are outside the law to be put in orange overalls and as such he has avoided coming to Parliament, avoided the law, he must be put in orange overalls because Parliament can't just be an expensive talk shop, there needs to be action and accountability."

To listen to Beesley's full discussion with 702 and CapeTalk's Mandy Wiener, click the link below and scroll to 6-minutes-45-seconds: