THE PERSECUTION AND ILLEGAL SUSPENSION OF RAF CEO MR COLLINS LETSOALO @KASIBC_NEWS

THE PERSECUTION AND ILLEGAL SUSPENSION OF RAF CEO MR COLLINS LETSOALO @KASIBC_NEWS 

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) condemns, in the strongest terms, the Road Accident Fund (RAF) Board placing their Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Collins Letsoalo, on special leave.  According to the Board, this is a “precautionary” measure pending the investigation of allegations of corruption, and yet the circumstances show that this is merely a witch hunt designed to tarnish Letsoalo’s reputation for his stellar work in uncovering the rot within the RAF. According to the RAF Board, in their submission to Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA),  Letsoalo has been placed on "special leave", a leave he has not applied for nor consented to. 

This action taken without procedural fairness, reveals the orchestrated attempt to create a public perception of wrongdoing where none has been proven. Even more disturbing is the revelation that the preliminary report on these allegations of corruption presented by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) contains mere allegations that are untested and unproven.  

The Department of Transport itself has admitted that the SIU has not briefed them on the contents of this report, nor has the RAF been afforded the courtesy or the right to respond to the claims contained within it. 

This clear disregard for due process reinforces that Letsoalo is being subjected to trial by innuendo, not by evidence. Letsoalo is not only being targeted for his transformation work at the RAF, but also for his bold stance against corruption within the judiciary. During his tenure, he has publicly raised uncomfortable truths about the rot and collusion within parts of the judicial system and the RAF where certain judges and legal practitioners collude in false RAF claims, steal money from claimants, and have set up complex fraudulent medico-legal networks and systems to drain the fund. 

Furthermore, Letsoalo has done commendable work in restoring financial order and operational efficiency at the RAF. It is the EFF’s contention that instead of being supported for exposing these critical issues and attempting to create a clean bill of governance in the RAF, Letsoalo is now being silenced and sidelined. His forced "special leave" is a direct attempt to punish him for speaking out against judicial corruption, and to send a chilling message to any executive who dares to challenge these corrupt networks of power. 

The EFF will not allow this suppression of truth to go unchallenged. It is also no coincidence that these spurious allegations are being circulated mere months before the conclusion of Mr. Letsoalo’s term in August. 

This is a desperate attempt to cast a cloud of suspicion over him, to discredit his legacy, and to prevent his reappointment. As a result, the EFF will formally write to the Minister of Transport to demand a full and transparent explanation of the circumstances surrounding Letsoalo’s so-called “special leave,” including who authorized it, under what grounds, and why due process was blatantly ignored. We will also call for the matter to be urgently tabled before the Portfolio Committee on Transport, where the Minister and the RAF Board must account for this unlawful and vindictive action; and to respond to the revelations of corruption that Letsoalo has uncovered that is occurring under their watch. 

The EFF demands that all allegations be subjected to fair and transparent processes, and that the rights of the accused be respected. 

THE UPSURGE OF GENDER BASED VIOLENCE AND FEMICIDE @KASIBC_NEWS

THE UPSURGE OF GENDER BASED VIOLENCE AND FEMICIDE @KASIBC_NEWS 

The ANC Women's League is deeply concerned with the highest rate in which violence is meted out against women, where men both in spousal and non-spousal relationships prey on women like vultures with no regard for human life. South Africa has steadily become a murder site which has been defined by the Gender and Health Research Unit of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), in its twenty (20) year study, as an extreme form of Gender Based Violence.   

The four (4) surveys of the SAMRC have used the same methodology and definition of femicide over a period of twenty (20) years since 1999, in which they concluded that four women were killed by intimate partners every day, and the trend only decreased to three (3) women in the third survey of 2009.   However, the fourth study which coincided with the first year of COVID19, saw a small but significant increase in the murder of women by intimate partners. 

The SAMRC further made a provincial breakdown of its research with provinces such as the Eastern Cape and Gauteng reporting significant increases. These statistics from credible institutions which are collaborated by the South African Police Service (SAPS) are a shame and an embarrassment to a country that boasts one of the most revered constitutional democracies in the world. Chapter two (2) of our country’s constitution guarantees the right to life as the most basic, the most fundamental and the most supreme right which human beings are entitled to, as an essential pre-requisite to the full enjoyment of all other human rights. It is therefore perturbing to witness such heinous attacks on defenceless women which has now reached pandemic levels, yet we pride ourselves with institutions which are intended to protect the rights of all citizens, particularly the vulnerable. 

The ANC Women’s League has also noted an upsurge in violence against women from non-spousal relationships, where women are lured in social media by unknown men and courted into secluded locations. We thus make a call to women in general to be extra vigilant of going out with people they made acquaintance with online, and to opt for public places when going to private excursions on their first date, with lots of activity and people in case of any eventuality. 

A recent incident of Olorato Mongale from Johannesburg in Gauteng - who went out on a date with a man only known as a “John”, who drove a VW Polo fitted with a cloned number plate found to be belonging to a different vehicle - is an indication of a cruel society that has no regard for human life, especially that of a woman. Olorato’s tragic killing is one of many incidents where women are enticed by men through social media platforms whilst the villain has dubious plans for the victim disguised as a ‘date’. 

The ANC Women’s League would like to caution women to always inform a friend, share location or family member every time they go out on a date, especially their first date with someone they have just met, and make an effort to meet in public places. 

We further plead with our male counterparts for compassion and to have mercy on women, for “every seed of success in a nation, is best planted in a woman”  

ICT POLICY REFORMS AND COMMITS TO DEFENDING TRANSFORMATION AND ECONOMIC INCLUSION @KASIBC_NEWS

ICT POLICY REFORMS AND COMMITS TO DEFENDING TRANSFORMATION AND ECONOMIC INCLUSION @KASIBC_NEWS 

The African National Congress (ANC) notes the recent publication of draft policy directives in the ICT sector, particularly those relating to the licensing of Individual Electronic Communications Network Licences (IECNLs) and the proposed Equity Equivalent Programme (EEP). These developments mark an important phase in shaping a digital future that must be inclusive, transformative, and people-centred. 

The ANC will actively participate in the forthcoming consultative processes to ensure that the transformation agenda is upheld and that the economic inclusion of historically disadvantaged communities is comprehensive, meaningful, and irreversible. 

These engagements will be guided by the principles set out in the Freedom Charter, the ANC Election Manifesto, and the 55th National Conference Resolutions. We further note that these are not new ideas, they are part of a consistent ANC-led transformation agenda to include historically excluded South Africans in the digital economy. EEIP enables multinational companies that cannot sell direct equity to invest in enterprise development, black industrialists, youth and women in ICT, skills training, and innovation. 

Already, since 2005: 

• Over R8 billion has been invested in the economy • Over 2,000 jobs created 

• Over 85 black-owned enterprises supported 

• 4 black industrialists created 

• Hundreds of students have gained critical ICT skills The Draft Policy Directive on IECNLs—opening space for satellite-based broadband services—offers a significant opportunity to bridge South Africa’s digital divide. If implemented equitably, satellite broadband will bring life-changing benefits to rural, remote, and underserved communities by enabling: 

• Expanded access to e-learning and digital literacy • Enhanced telemedicine and primary healthcare support 

• Greater adoption of smart farming and agro-technologies 

• Digital growth of rural SMMEs and local economic development 

However, the ANC emphasises that digital expansion must be anchored in transformation. We reiterate our support for the 30% minimum equity ownership by historically disadvantaged persons (HDPs) as required by Section 9(b) of the Electronic Communications Act (ECA). 

This must include youth, women, and persons with disabilities—both as beneficiaries and participants in the ownership and operation of ICT infrastructure. Transformation must not be reduced to a tick-box exercise. 

It requires proactive and deliberate support for: 

• Black-owned ICT enterprises and cooperatives 

• Supplier development and value chain inclusion 

• Youth digital skills training and employment 

• Township and rural connectivity rollouts 

We further emphasise the importance of ministerial concurrence and Cabinet approval in ensuring that the EEP aligns with national development objectives and avoids unintended dilution of transformation imperatives. 

Done correctly, these reforms can: 

• Catalyse job creation across ICT, health, education, and logistics sectors 

• Drive the localisation of manufacturing and content production 

• Deepen the participation of rural and township economies in the digital revolution 

• Enhance the global competitiveness of South African industries 

The ANC reaffirms that inclusive digital infrastructure is a cornerstone of building a developmental, capable, and transformative state. 

We call upon all stakeholders, including government departments, regulators, the private sector, and civil society to work in partnership to shape an ICT policy environment that delivers universal access, economic justice, and shared prosperity. 

The current phase of reform is a crucial opportunity for thoroughgoing empowerment and we will engage with clarity, commitment, and vigilance to ensure that no South African is left behind. 

COMMEMORATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPERS @KASIBC_NEWS

COMMEMORATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPERS @KASIBC_NEWS 

Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms. Angie Motshekga, joins the international community in commemorating the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers. This event is observed annually on the 29th of May to honour the extraordinary contributions of UN Peacekeepers (commonly known as “Blue Helmets’) in promoting global peace and security. 

The United Nations marks the 77th anniversary of UN Peacekeeping under the theme: “Reviewing and Adapting UN Peacekeeping to Meet the Needs of the 21st Century.” It resonates deeply with us as South Africans, as it reflects not only the evolving global peace and security landscape, but also our own national journey of transition from conflict to democracy, which is built on principles of peace, reconciliation, and inclusive development. 

The Minister stated that “South Africa remains deeply committed to the ideals and objectives of United Nations peacekeeping. Our participation in these missions reflects our belief in the values of human dignity, regional stability, and international cooperation. We honour the bravery of those who have worn the Blue Helmet and laid down their lives for the cause of peace. Their sacrifice must never be forgotten.” 

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) will observe this important day through a wreath laying ceremony at the Wall of Remembrance, which is situated at the Mobilisation Centre in De Brug (Bloemfontein) on the 29th of May 2025. 

This moment of reflection is an expression of our gratitude to all SANDF personnel who have served in UN peacekeeping operations under difficult and dangerous conditions. 

As South Africans, we stand proud of our role in the United Nations peacekeeping architecture and reaffirm our commitment to working toward a continent and world where peace is not a privilege, but a right enjoyed by all.