Court Dismisses RAF CEO Collins Letsoalo’s Bid to Overturn Suspension

by Kelebogile Matlou

The High Court in Pretoria has dismissed an urgent court case brought by Road Accident Fund (RAF) CEO Collins Letsoalo. He wanted the court to cancel his suspension and allow him to return to work, but the judge ruled against him. Letsoalo was suspended on 3 June 2025 by the RAF board after he refused to appear before Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa). The board saw this as insubordination.

Letsoalo went to court to argue that his suspension was unlawful, irrational and unreasonable. He also asked the court to stop the board from advertising the CEO job, because he believed he had the right to be reappointed when his contract ends on 6 August 2025.

On Thursday, Judge Graham Moshoana dismissed his case.
“Letsoalo has failed to establish a prima facie right, even one open to any doubt, and failed to demonstrate any apprehension of irreparable harm. Thus, he is not entitled to an interdictory relief of any nature be it interim or final. Accordingly, the application, although heard as one of urgency, falls to be dismissed,” said Judge Graham Moshoana.

image: Internet

Letsoalo said the board had already decided to reappoint him, but the court said there was no proof of that. “Letsoalo’s founding makes a nude allegation that the board has resolved to reappoint him. The RAF board denies this. Letsoalo failed to provide any resolution in support of his allegation, and the right to reappoint Letsoalo simply does not exist as a matter of substantive law and is baseless,”said the judge.

Judge Moshoana also explained that only the Minister of Transport can appoint the CEO not the board. “Undoubtedly, the minister, as the repository of statutory power to appoint, has a substantial interest in the relief sought by Mr Letsoalo to interdict and restrain an appointment of a CEO of RAF. The failure to join the minister is fatal to the granting of the interdictory relief,” he said.

Letsoalo’s employment contract also clearly stated that he should not expect his job to be renewed after 6 August 2025. “In terms of Clause 28.1 of the FTC, Mr Letsoalo agreed that no amendment of the FTC shall be binding on the parties unless reduced to a written document and signed by them,” judge Graham Moshoana.

Letsoalo also told the court that some people were putting pressure on the board to advertise the CEO position. Judge Moshoana said In a rather rumour-mongering style, Mr Letsoalo testified that there is already pressure on the board from ‘some quarters’ to advertise the position. He added that if the position is advertised, Letsoalo can apply like everyone else. “Finally, assuming that such an advertisement is ultimately made, there is nothing to prevent Mr Letsoalo to respond to the advertisement and compete for the position of the CEO of the RAF,” said judge.

Judge Moshoana said there was no valid reason for an urgent court order and no harm would come to Letsoalo.He said because of all the above reasons, Mr Letsoalo failed to make out a case for an interdictory relief even on an interim basis. Accordingly, an application for an interim interdict falls to be dismissed.