The Road Accident Fund has dismissed weekend media claims by its management suggesting its management has become a law unto itself. The RAF held a media briefing at its offices on Monday to respond to criticism by lawyers who are also accusing the fund’s current management of tempering its mandate.
This was after the RAF started a campaign to have victims of road accidents claim directly from it instead of having to sue the fund, which would see them (victims) forfeit not less than 25 percent of their compensation.
CEO Collins Letsoalo says those making allegations against him are doing so because of his refusal for the RAF to operate as a typical insurance when it is actually a social benefit scheme. In the latest Letsoalo is accused of interfering with procurement processes to secure a leasing deal for a company but he denied the allegation pointing out he’s got no ties to the said entity and it’s dealings with the RAF are purely because it has been appointed by Government Pension Fund Scheme which the RAF is now leasing offices from.
“As long as it does not benefit lawyers, medical schools, doctors, you are not going to be liked. The previous management and the board was hated for bringing perhaps the whole existence of a social benefit scheme. Unfortunately, the detractors won’t because it never sealed the metal plate.
That’s it is but we are unperturbed because ours was a mission, a mission to assist in the sustainability of the RAR. And by the way, we didn’t bring ourselves here,” said Letsoalo pointing out that previous attempts to have the RAF operate as an insurance failed dismally.
“ The cost were also then compared, Okay? So you must go to Marble Towers (2:31) and you must go to our building now. And you must tell me if there’s no difference there.And by the way, it’s lower in termsof cost per square metre than Marble Towers. And it belongs to the GPF. So it’s not a friend of mine.So when they say it is like Moana propertiesare friends of mine that I just decided to give something to. And that the people who were sent, they just came back and said, we like that building, let’s move into it.There’s no such a thing,” said Letsoalo of the move from Marble Towers in the Johannesburg CBD.
He also denied involvement in any other tenders saying he doesn’t even know the RAF’s service providers.
“Now, let’s then move to the other allegations. So, Peppered, there is this cleaning. I don’t even know, as I’m telling you now today, who cleans rough offices. I don’t know who provides security to us. (And frankly, I’m not interested. In the ordinary course of people doing their work, people will come and say, well, there is this contract.That means extension. We then extend it if there is a need. And most of these contracts, anyway, fall within the remit of the board, most of them,including this particular one that we have just finalised.If there was a recommendation to the board, you’d have thought I approved myself. No. I’ve got bosses.They take decisions as well, okay? So, it’s very strange that, that, so they add security, fleet, Sienza. Most of these contracts,I was not even here when they were entered into,” said Letsoalo.
He said those criticising him are disappointed that he moved RAF offices to a state owned building.