Suspended Road Accident Fund (RAF) chief executive Collins Letsoalo has taken his fight to the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, arguing the urgency of his reinstatement is fuelled by the potential irreparable harm to his reputation as his employment contract nears expiration. The court case unfolded as Letsoalo’s advocate, Pule Moshoadiba SC, articulated the profound implications of the suspension, which he claims would leave Letsoalo’s professional integrity gravely compromised if not addressed swiftly.
Letsoalo has been suspended since June 3, following allegations that he failed to attend a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee (SCOPA) on May 27. However, Moshoadiba contended that Letsoalo had been placed on special leave prior to the meeting, thus making any attendance impossible without breaching the terms of his leave.
The crux of Moshoadiba’s argument lies in the timing of the suspension relative to Letsoalo’s fixed-term contract, which is set to conclude on August 6. “Beyond this date, the applicant would not have an opportunity to clear his name and exercise his right to challenge the lawfulness of his suspension,” he argued, emphasising that the perception of Letsoalo’s integrity would remain marred if this matter lingers without resolution.
Letsoalo is not just seeking a chance to return to his position but is also aiming to halt the advertising of his role, fearing that the board intends to replace him once his contract lapses. His legal team maintains that the RAF’s management is ineffectively delaying proceedings, likening their actions to “kicking the can down the road” while his contract runs out.
The hearing was presided over by Judge Nasious Moshoana, and judgment has been reserved. While Letsoalo’s legal representatives argue for immediate redress to prevent reputational damage, Advocate Ernst van Graan SC, representing the RAF and its board, sought to dismiss the urgency of the application, stating that the contract stipulates conditions under which suspension is permissible, thereby justifying their actions.
Such legal entanglements come at a crucial time for Letsoalo, who has served as the RAF chief executive since 2020. The board had previously indicated intentions to renew his contract, only to later suspend him last month. Moshoadiba underscored the exceptional circumstances surrounding the case, arguing that a suspended employee generally still has ample opportunity to redeem themselves during a disciplinary process—a luxury that Letsoalo, with his contract expiry looming, may not afford. The central issue now remains whether he can secure a timely resolution that permits him to protect his reputation before his contract concludes.