RAF In the News

Written by Mayibongwe Maqhina | Published on 15 August 2023 The Road Accident Fund (RAF) will come under scrutiny when the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) conducts an oversight visit at its offices on Wednesday. This follows a previous visit in June to investigate a dispute between the RAF and Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke over the entity’s disclaimer audit opinion for the 2021/22 financial year. In her audit report, Maluleke said she was unable to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence for claims liabilities totalling R27.8 billion and claims expenditure amounting to R37.1bn as disclosed in the financial statements. She also said RAF had amended the accounting policy to recognise claims liabilities and claims expenditure. RAF amended its accounting policy regarding International Public Sector Accounting Standard 42 to recognise claim liability and expenditure as social benefits. This was in place of the generally recognised accounting practice, which applies to the RAF

Written by Kabelo Khumalo | Published on 26 June 2023 Discovery claimed medical schemes are losing R2m daily due to RAF’s unlawful directive. Medical schemes will have to stomach losses of up to R2m a day after the high court in Pretoria dismissed Discovery Health’s bid to compel the Road Accident Fund (RAF) to immediately process medical scheme members’ legitimate claims until the Constitutional Court decides on the dispute. SA has about 800,000 road accidents every year, according to data collated by the department of transport, translating to about 2,200 crashes daily. Medical schemes have historically submitted claims to the RAF after footing the bill for members injured in road accidents. However, the RAF shocked the establishment in August when it announced that it would no longer pay for past hospital and medical claims issued by members of medical aid schemes. Angered by the directive, Discovery interdicted the RAF in

Written by Abel Mputing | Published on 27 June 2023 The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) concluded its week-long oversight to Gauteng on Friday at the Road Accident Fund (RAF) headquarters. On arrival, the committee was barred from entering the building in Menlyn, Pretoria, despite RAF’s executives being made aware of the visit beforehand.  When the committee eventually gained access after a protracted telephone exchange between the committee, Department of Transport officials and the RAF’s executive, whose absence was conspicuous, SCOPA soon realised why it had struggled to enter the building. The reign of chaotic disorder that characterises RAF’s working conditions soon became apparent. The meandering hallway of RAF’s offices was littered with boxes upon boxes lining the walls, spilling onto the floor in manner that resembled the clutter of a dumping site. The committee also learnt that most personnel are squatting in offices belonging to others and have

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) is conducting oversight on the Road Accident Fund. Video from the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa YouTube channel.

Written by Zelda Venter | Published on 31 May 2023 Pretoria – A judge has endorsed the Mosotho culture that says that it is the duty of a son to support his mother when he starts to earn an income. The court ordered the Road Accident Fund (RAF) to compensate her for loss of support following the death of her son. The mother turned to the High Court in Bloemfontein, where she claimed nearly R489 000 from the RAF for loss of support after her son died in a car crash. The mother is a 61-year-old unmarried pensioner, and the deceased was her second son. The mother resides in an old and dilapidated brick house in Ladybrand, for which she has no title deed. Her eldest son, with whom she does not have much contact, only recently got a job. She last saw the father of the children during or

Written by Tania Broughton | Published on 25 May 2023 Archive photo: Ashraf Hendricks The Road Accident Fund (RAF) is refusing to hand over crucial documents required in a court challenge by the Law Society of South Africa (LSSA) and the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NDPD) against drastic changes to what the fund will pay road accident victims. Pretoria High Court Judge Ingrid Opperman has now told the fund to provide the documents, and has instructed CEO Collins Letsoalo and the chair of the board, Thembelihle Msibi, that when the application is finally heard, they must file affidavits explaining why they should not be personally held liable for the costs. Judge Opperman, in expressing her displeasure with the RAF’s conduct, said it was “not only discourteous and unprofessional, but also the very opposite of rule-abiding”. The court battle has its roots in the promulgation by the

Written by Tania Broughton | Published on 27 May 2023 The Road Accident Fund (RAF) is refusing to hand over crucial documents required in a court challenge by the Law Society of South Africa (LSSA) and the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NDPD) against drastic changes to what the fund will pay road accident victims. Pretoria High Court Judge Ingrid Opperman has now told the fund to provide the documents, and has instructed CEO Collins Letsoalo and the chair of the board, Thembelihle Msibi, that when the application is finally heard, they must file affidavits explaining why they should not be personally held liable for the costs. Judge Opperman, in expressing her displeasure with the RAF’s conduct, said it was “not only discourteous and unprofessional, but also the very opposite of rule-abiding”. The court battle has its roots in the promulgation by the Minister of Transport of