Kenneth Brown, a seasoned former official from South Africa’s Treasury, has been appointed as the interim chairperson of the Road Accident Fund (RAF). This appointment comes just two weeks after the previous board was dissolved amid ongoing concerns over governance and operational challenges.
The announcement of Brown’s appointment marks a step towards stabilising the RAF, which has been under scrutiny for its management issues. Brown, who is currently a non-executive director at the Development Bank of Southern Africa, has a strong background in public finance. He held key roles at Treasury from January 2007 until late 2016, including serving as chief procurement officer for four years and leading intergovernmental relations for six years.
The decision to appoint Brown follows the dissolution of the RAF board, which was prompted by Transport Minister Barbara Creecy. She cited “persistent governance and operational challenges” that have hindered the fund’s ability to fulfill its statutory duties. Since mid-July, the RAF has been without a permanent board, especially after the suspension of CEO Collins Letsoalo in May — a move Creecy criticised as inconsistent and reckless.
In addition to the RAF appointment, the government named Sedzani Faith Mudau as the new permanent chair of South African Airways (SAA). Mudau, a Chartered Accountant with extensive experience on state-owned enterprise boards, previously served on Sentech and the State Information Technology Agency boards. Her expertise in business turnaround and sustainable growth is seen as a valuable asset for SAA’s future.
Mudau takes over from Derek Hanekom, who served as interim chair since 2023. Her appointment signals a broader government push to address leadership and operational issues within key state entities. Creecy recently referred to Hanekom as the “outgoing interim board chairperson,” indicating ongoing efforts to stabilise these critical organisations and improve their governance.