RAF responds to SIU probe, calls allegations a smear campaign! The Road Accident Fund (RAF) says it is fully prepared to cooperate with the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) as it prepares to make formal submissions regarding allegations of irregularities in a controversial Johannesburg office lease deal.
This comes after media reports emerged last week highlighting a preliminary SIU investigation, which raised red flags around the RAF’s move to Marble Towers in the Johannesburg CBD. The reports questioned the transparency of the lease arrangement and implied possible procurement violations.
RAF Pushes Back Against Allegations
In a media briefing held on Monday, RAF CEO Collins Letsoalo dismissed the allegations, describing the media coverage as part of a “smear campaign” orchestrated by a former employee who left the organisation under troubling circumstances.
RAF responds to SIU probe
Letsoalo alleged that the former staff member, who is currently facing sexual harassment and misconduct accusations, had falsely presented himself as a whistleblower. According to Letsoalo, the individual had shared unverified information across multiple platforms, including the Office of the Public Protector, in an effort to damage the RAF’s reputation.
Relocation to Marble Towers Under Scrutiny
At the center of the investigation is the RAF’s relocation to Marble Towers, a lease arranged through state-owned property managers following numerous failed attempts to secure new premises over the years.
The RAF maintains that the deal went through all required legal and procurement channels and received final approval from the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer. Letsoalo emphasized that the decision was made to ensure the sustainability of the fund.
“We are unperturbed, because ours was a mission, a mission to assist in the sustainability of the RAF,” said Letsoalo.
Auditor-General Found No Irregularities
Letsoalo further stated that the lease agreement had already been subjected to scrutiny by the Auditor-General, who reportedly found no evidence of irregularities in the deal.
RAF to Cooperate Fully with SIU
Despite criticizing the leak of preliminary findings, the RAF reaffirmed its support for the SIU’s work and stressed that it would cooperate fully to bring the matter to a close.
“We are ready to lay everything bare,” Letsoalo concluded, calling for a fair and transparent investigation.