Dear Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA),

The above mentioned law firm was placed under suspension by the LPC in October 2021 after it was discovered that there were some financial irregularities. The firm and Mr Chueu are now in suspension for three years with no progress or end in sight for the curatorship. The firm is currently placed under the curatorship of Ms Matsaung (LPC Director in Limpopo) and Mr Briel (LPC Director in Gauteng).

Since this firm was placed under curatorship in 2021 it has not received any payments from RAF. The monies I am referring to is estimated at R600-800 million which are capital amounts owing to claimants. The claimants have been waiting for their compensation for 3-5 years while the matters are on the RNYP list which is way more than the 180 days which became applicable after Mr Collins Letsoalo took over.

Please note that the disciplinary process with regards to the directors of the firms has no bearing on payments as the account of the firm is under the control of the LPC curators Ms Matsaung and Mr Briel. Their duty is to collect money from RAF and to pay creditors however they have not really succeeded as the claimants and service providers remain unpaid for long periods.

Chueu Attorneys is a case in hand, however there are many other firms that are suffering the same fate especially if the CEO doesn't like them. It is alleged that Ms Matsaung has also blacklisted some firms who have being doing matters previously dealt with by Chueu as a result their matters are not being paid even though they have letters of good standing with the LPC.

It is requested that SCOPA should intervene in this matters at RAF as the people suffering the most are claimants who lost breadwinners and those who are unable to work due to the accidents. The service providers (advocates, doctors, assessors etc) have also been out of pocket for more than 5 years.

The RAF is not willing to pay the claimants in these matters and they are not providing any reasons.