NUMSA calls for RAF CEO’s removal

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The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) will be embarking on a strike at the Road Accident Fund (RAF) on Thursday.

The union is demanding the immediate removal of RAF Chief Executive Officer, Collins Letsoalo.

According to NUMSA National Spokesperson, Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, RAF continues to be mismanaged under the leadership of Letsoalo.

She further said to make matters worse, Letsoalo is restructuring the company, without following the section 189 process which will lead to massive job losses. 

We have dealt with minister Pravin Gordhan… he's on his way out of DPE and he has failed to sell SAA. We will deal with Collins Letsoalo as well for destroying @RAF_SA 👊🏾#ForTheLoveofTheWorkingClass
❤️🖤💛 https://t.co/s19dC6bJwT

— Phakamile Hlubi-Majola💫 (@phakxx) March 13, 2024

“Some of our members from Putco will also be joining the march to highlight their grievances against the bus company. The bosses at Putco are continuing to victimize 120 workers who were suspended for misconduct, for participating in an unprotected strike in 2022.

“Putco is victimizing these workers because they exposed management for being greedy. The strike was sparked because Putco would not pay workers their increases, even though they could afford it.

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“Putco paid the increases, only after our members embarked on a strike to force them to pay. If these workers had not gone on strike, Putco would not have paid a cent,” she remarked. 

Hlubi-Majola stated that they are demanding that government must stop subsidizing Putco because of the terrible treatment that it is giving to these employees.

She added; “We will be handing over a memorandum of demands to the Transport minister Sindisiwe Chikunga.”

RAF rubbishes NUMSA claims

RAF has rubbished allegations of the entity’s mismanagement and defended its CEO Collins Letsoalo, reports IOL.

McIntosh Polela, RAF head of corporate communications, said the fund was alerted to the allegations against its head, and disagreed wholeheartedly with the union.

“The RAF has seen the allegations from Numsa; we disagree with them. We also disagree with their intention to strike. An attack on the CEO is unfortunate and unwarranted. The RAF is not a one man show, it’s an organisation. It is therefore disingenuous to attack one person.”