Latest news with #RAF-related
IOL News
28-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Letsoalo's suspension sparks uproar: Reformist CEO taken down amid legal backlash
Sources close to the matter claim the suspension of RAF CEO Collins Letsoalo was a calculated move to pacify a deeply aggrieved group of attorneys In a move that has ignited controversy and speculation, Collins Letsoalo, the CEO of the Road Accident Fund (RAF), has been placed on suspension — a decision that legal experts and insiders say is less about accountability and more about political appeasement. Letsoalo's suspension comes just weeks after a Supreme Court of Appeal ruling cleared him and the RAF board of personal liability in two long-delayed claims. While the court's decision offered legal vindication, the political pressure around his leadership has been mounting, largely from within a legal fraternity that has openly waged war on him since his tenure began. Sources close to the matter claim the suspension was a calculated move to pacify a deeply aggrieved group of attorneys, many of whom also serve as magistrates and judges and wield substantial influence and public funds. These lawyers have seen their lucrative RAF-related revenues dry up under Letsoalo's aggressive anti-corruption and reform agenda. Letsoalo is no stranger to conflict. He publicly branded elements of the legal industry as 'thuggish,' accusing some attorneys of manipulating the claims system for personal enrichment at the expense of road accident victims. One of the most high-profile battles was with Gert Nel Incorporated and the Association for the Protection of Road Accident Victims (APRAV), whom Letsoalo accused of fighting transformation and resisting the Road Accident Benefit Scheme (RABS) Bill — a policy shift that threatens the profit models of many legal firms. 'They never cared about victims,' Letsoalo declared during a media briefing in March. 'They cared about the billions they've made off the pain of others.'
The Citizen
17-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
RAF concerned over rising court cases amid backlog reduction efforts
The Road Accident Fund (RAF) said it is not pleased with the rising number of RAF-related matters appearing before the courts, even as efforts to reduce the backlog of claims continue, according to The Witness. In recent weeks, Weekend Witness observed over 60 RAF matters on the roll in a single day at the Pietermaritzburg High Court — significantly more than typically seen. During the 2024 Judicial Service Commission interviews for the position of Deputy Judge President of the KZN Division of the High Court, Judge Nkosinathi Chili said delays in RAF cases were often due to administrative issues within the fund itself. The RAF, however, has repeatedly said that the backlog stems from court processes, not internal shortcomings. At the time, Chili identified three key challenges facing the division: Delays in finalising RAF cases, delays in criminal appeal outcomes, and the need to upgrade outdated court equipment. He said he had taken it upon himself to personally handle RAF matters to better understand the cause of the delays. Responding to Weekend Witness, RAF head of corporate communications McIntosh Polela said: 'The RAF can never be happy with the increase of matters in court because this means the RAF is being sued. It is regrettable that lawyers representing claimants opt for issuing summons rather than seriously considering the offers that we make.' He said that RAF rarely initiates legal action. 'If you carefully consider the 60 matters on the roll that day, you will hardly find one where the RAF is the initiating party,' he said. Despite the mounting pressure on the courts, Polela said the fund remains committed to meeting its annual performance plan target of settling claims within 120 days of submission — provided that all required documents are supplied by claimants. 'The RAF remains committed to putting the claimant first and encourages those with long-outstanding claims to contact the RAF contact centre on 087 820 1 111 to check on the progress of their cases.' While the high number of RAF cases suggests that the courts are working through the backlog more efficiently, the fund maintained that it would prefer out-of-court settlements to reduce litigation costs and speed up compensation. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
