SCOPA moves to subpoena former RAF CEO Letsoalo

PARLIAMENT’S Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) has resolved to subpoena former Road Accident Fund (RAF) chief executive Collins Letsoalo after he repeatedly failed to respond to invitations to appear before the committee — escalating Parliament’s investigation into the RAF’s deepening financial and governance crisis.

- JONISAYI MAROMO

In a statement issued yesterday, SCOPA confirmed it had unanimously agreed to issue a summons to Letsoalo after Parliament’s Legal Advisor, Fatima Ebrahim, reported that he had failed to respond to a final letter offering him the chance to appear voluntarily before the committee in late November.

The decision means Letsoalo will now be compelled by law to testify before Parliament under the Powers, Privileges and Immunities Act of 2004 — a move committee chairperson Songezo Zibi described as a last resort.

“The information the committee seeks is within Mr Letsoalo’s personal knowledge and cannot be obtained by other means,” Zibi said, adding that several witnesses had made claims that fairness required Letsoalo be given an opportunity to respond.

Zibi said he will now write to National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza to seek her concurrence before the subpoena is formally issued. Once approved, the summons will be served by the Secretary to Parliament.

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