RAF In the News

Written By Lindsay Dentlinger  | Published on October 11th, 2025 | EWN The fund has also opened new bank accounts and diverted funds into investment accounts to avoid direct payments to claimants who have obtained a writ of execution. The Road Accident Fund (RAF) has reportedly been leasing cars and office equipment worth millions of rand in an effort to avoid having its property attached for the non-payment of claims. The fund has also opened new bank accounts and diverted funds into investment accounts to avoid direct payments to claimants who have obtained a writ of execution. READ: Road Accident Fund officials accused of obstructing SIU investigations These tactics were revealed by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) at an inquiry of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) on Friday, which is probing maladministration at the fund. According to the RAF’s payment rules, a valid claim is supposed to be settled

Written By Roy Cokayne  | Published on September 3rd, 2025 | MoneyWeb The financially-distressed Road Accident Fund (RAF) has received a significant High Court blow, which may lead to its collapse. The RAF applied to the High Court in Pretoria for the extension, revival, or reinstatement of a 180-day moratorium on the execution of writs and warrants for capital and interest against it. However, Judge Jabulani Nyathi struck the application from the court roll, with costs, because of a lack of urgency. The RAF had R10.4 billion in unpaid claims at the end of its financial year to 31 March 2025 – and a total claims liability of R40.4 billion – despite this, it maintains it can meet its obligations over the next 12 months. The moratorium provided temporary legal protection from immediate enforcement of court-ordered payments, allowing the RAF up to 180 days to settle claims. The 180-day payment structure

Written By Thanduxolo Jika  | Published on August 31st, 2025 | Sunday Times, Za Allegations have surfaced that the Road Accident Fund’s (RAF) reported success in slashing legal expenditure by over 50% is misleading, masking deeper systemic problems within the organisation. Whistleblowers recently presented evidence to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa), revealing operational inefficiencies, inflated claim settlements, and serious dereliction of duty as the real challenges facing RAF. The RAF had publicly celebrated its purported achievement in reducing costly legal fees, framing it as a major turnaround. However, insiders contest this narrative, warning that such figures are a “smoke screen” designed to deflect scrutiny from internal mismanagement. According to whistleblowers, RAF’s operational processes are plagued by delays, lack of accountability, and poor oversight, leading to unnecessary financial losses. They also allege that inflated claim settlements—sometimes granted without adequate investigation—have drained the fund’s resources, undermining its sustainability. “These problems are

By Conviction Staff Reporter | Published on July 10th, 2025 | Conviction The Road Accident Benefits Scheme promises reform, but critics warn it will dismantle hard-won legal protections, exclude vulnerable victims, and deepen systemic failures • Fewer rights, no court access, and reduced compensation.• Vulnerable groups, including dependents and informal workers, left out.• System can’t cope with 1.5 million payments a year. The Association for the Protection of Road Accident Victims (APRAV) has voiced strong opposition to the reintroduction of the Road Accident Benefits Scheme (RABS), a Bill previously rejected multiple times by Parliament due to its unconstitutional limitations, unaffordable structure, and impractical design.  “You can’t fix a broken system by stripping away rights. RABS is not reform; it’s regression,” says Ngoako Mohlaloga, APRAV Deputy Chairperson.  APRAV’s response follows COSATU’s recent public support for RABS, which the trade union federation called a progressive measure aimed at protecting the poor. But APRAV

By Yeshiel Panchia | Published on June 29, 2025 | Daily Maverick Embattled Road Accident Fund CEO Collins Letsoalo’s court bid to keep his seat may have failed, but his possible ousting and the pending Scopa inquiry highlights the fundamental problem with the RAF’s books that no fuel levy increase can fix. On Thursday, 26 June the Pretoria High Court dismissed suspended Road Accident Fund (RAF) CEO Collins Letsoalo’s bid for reinstatement, finding his application to be vexatious. Letsoalo, who was suspended by the board four weeks ago on Monday, 3 June 2025 after allegedly failing to attend a Scopa hearing in breach of a statutory summons, now finds himself on the wrong end of a governance crisis. Judge Nasious Moshoanathe ruled that Letsoalo failed to show any factual or legal right to an urgent interdict. The court’s decision was welcomed by the Association for Protection of Road Accident Victims (Aprav).

By Zelda Venter | Published on June 26, 2025 | IOL Suspended Road Accident Fund (RAF) chief executive Collins Letsoalo’s suspension will remain in place, after the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, has turned down his application to immediately be reinstated as CEO. In a scathing judgment released late on Thursday, Judge Nasious Moshoanathe said Letsoalo’s application was vexatious. He found Letsoalo’s suspension effected by the RAF Board earlier this month is lawful, rational and reasonable. “There is no factual or legal basis to declare the suspension to be unlawful, irrational and unreasonable. Mr Letsoalo has failed to establish a prima facie right, even one open to any doubt. He failed to demonstrate any apprehension of irreparable harm. Thus, he is not entitled to an interdictory relief of any nature, be it interim or final,” the judge said. Accordingly, the application, although heard as one of urgency, falls to be dismissed, he added, slapping Letsoalo with the

Written by Tania Broughton | Published on 10 June 2025 | GroundUp Lawyers aren’t sent to court, resulting in default judgments. A judge of the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria has blasted the Road Accident Fund (RAF) for its “chaotic approach to litigation” which has resulted in huge losses of public money. Courts are swamped with RAF cases, many of them without merit or with over-inflated claims for compensation. But “the main problem lies with the RAF”, said Judge Jan Pretorius in a recent judgment. The RAF does not deal with its matters properly, does not send lawyers to court to oppose applications or, if it does, does not provide them with any instructions. This results in “default” judgments. The fund would then apply to rescind the judgments, often on baseless grounds. “In this manner huge sums of money, public money, it must be emphasised, are lost,” said Judge Pretorius.