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Keeping you updated on critical developments within the Road Accident Fund.
Law firm slammed for allegedly pocketing R2.2 billion from RAF
Written by Kirsten Minnaar | Published on 10 January 2025 | DailyInvestor The CEO of the Road Accident Fund (RAF), Collins Letsoalo, has alleged that the law firm Gert Nel Attorneys has benefited irregularly from medico-legal claims. “Over the past period of five years, Gert Nel Attorneys has been paid over R2.2 billion from the RAF,” Letsoalo said. “For R2 billion, we know that is close to R500 million that he has made. You are not shocked why this man fights so much. He wants to continue.” When asked to break down this R2.2 billion figure, Gert Nel, CEO of Gert Nel Attorneys, told Daily Investor, “We intend to ask the RAF the same question – we do not have the specifics of this figure and hence cannot confirm or deny the correctness thereof.” A recent report by IOL states that the RAF has blocked the disbursement of R65 million
Discovery mulls SCA appeal after RAF medical costs ruling
Published on 8 January 2025 The Gauteng High Court dismissal with costs last month of Discovery Health’s application for an order declaring the Road Accident Fund (RAF) to be in breach of a previous High Court order was saluted by RAF CEO Collins Letsoalo, who described it as “a watershed” moment. However, said a legal expert, it did not absolve the agency of its obligation to reimburse road accident victims for their past medical expenses. The case dates back to 2022, when the RAF instructed its staff to reject claims from car crash victims if they had already been paid by medical schemes. Letsoalo said Discovery Health “must know we are coming for our money they have claimed illegally from the RAF”. He referred to paragraphs in the judgment saying the RAF was not an insurer, and said he had claimed for some time “that the RAF is a social
RAF ‘still liable’ for past medical expense payments despite Discovery judgment
Written by Roy Cokayne | Published on 23 December 2024 | Moneyweb The fund ‘achieved nothing in terms of escaping its financial liability’ – Prof Hennie Klopper. The dismissal of Discovery Health’s High Court application against the Road Accident Fund (RAF) related to the payment of past medical expenses paid by medical schemes does not diminish the rights of road accident victims to claim medical costs from the RAF. So says Emeritus Professor in the Department of Private Law at the University of Pretoria Hennie Klopper, who earlier this month was singled out together with Gert Nel of Gert Nel Inc attorneys by RAF CEO Collins Letsoalo for severe criticism at a RAF media briefing. Letsoalo, among other things, said Prof Klopper was part of a campaign to “capture” the RAF. Klopper said the RAF’s so-called high court victory came at a great expense to taxpayers and victims, who are
After the Bell: Open letter to Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy
Written by Tim Cohen | Published on 10 December 2024 | Daily Maverick Dear Minister Creecy, I’m a journalist currently working for two publications, Daily Maverick and Currency. I’ve devoted decades of my life to this job I love. But a recent interaction with Collins Letsoalo, the head of the Road Accident Fund (RAF), an organisation that falls under your auspices, has left me angry, bewildered and concerned for the organisation’s future. That is serious because the RAF ostensibly compensates people who have lost loved ones or people who have to live out their lives injured or maimed. The circumstances are as such: I occasionally chat with Songezo Zibi, who was my predecessor as editor of Business Day and whom I’ve known for some years now. Following his election to Parliament, Zibi assumed the chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa), a crucial institute of Parliament. During one
Open letter to the South African public
Gert Nel Incorporated, and particularly our managing partner Mr Gert Nel, in his personal capacity, has fallen victim to a smear campaign orchestrated by the Road Accident Fund led by their CEO Collins Letsoalo. The attack is rooted in the fact that the executive and Board of the RAF had been called on their unlawful reform and mismanagement of the RAF. See in this regard various publications in which our Mr. Nel has highlighted the utter disregard of the rule of law and the Court, resulting in serious prejudice to all road crash victims. Despite calling a media briefing to address the issues raised, Mr. Letsoalo, seemingly unable to prove the contrary, opted to orchestrate a false and defamatory innuendo of corruption as aired and published on various media platforms. RAF spokesperson Mr. Macintosh Pholela also joined in spreading more falsities and unsubstantiated rhetoric to silence the voice of truth.
RAF blocks the disbursement of R65m in fraudulent claims
Read the official response from Gert Nel: View Response Road Accident Fund says more than R1bn in fraudulent claims identified for rejection to safeguard the fund’s financial resources As part of a crackdown on fraudulent and corrupt activities, the Road Accident Fund (RAF) has blocked the disbursement of R65m in claims over the past three financial years. According to the RAF, 2,031 fraudulent claims were rejected: 870 in 2023/2024; 713 in 2022/2023; and 448 in 2021/2022. The RAF said these claims were not processed and finalised because of their fraudulent nature. “Fraud costs the RAF money and negatively affects service delivery to road crash victims and their families,” said RAF CEO Collins Letsoalo. “It is a national problem that threatens the mandate which the organisation seeks to deliver for road users. Partnerships have been forged with various law enforcement agencies and other government departments to verify employment or personal information
RAF national crisis demands urgent action – expert
Written By Ina Opperman | 26 November, 2024 | The Citizen Road crashes disrupt the lives of millions annually and cost the economy R200 billion, according to a recent ministerial report. The Road Accident Fund (RAF) has become a national crisis that demands urgent action as it is mired in a financial and operational crisis, leaving victims waiting up to eight years for compensation. Every time you fill up your car, part of your payment is a lifeline for road crash victims or at least, it should be. South Africans contribute approximately 40% of the total current fuel levy to the RAF, a fund meant to provide medical and financial compensation for victims of road accidents. Yet, despite this substantial public contribution, the RAF is in crisis and the victims bear the brunt as they wait for compensation, professor Hennie Klopper, an authority on third-party compensation law, says. “The reality of these delays is
RAF national crisis demands urgent action – expert
Written by Ina Opperman | Published on 26 November 2024 | The Citizen Road crashes disrupt the lives of millions annually and cost the economy R200 billion, according to a recent ministerial report. The Road Accident Fund (RAF) has become a national crisis that demands urgent action as it is mired in a financial and operational crisis, leaving victims waiting up to eight years for compensation. Every time you fill up your car, part of your payment is a lifeline for road crash victims or at least, it should be. South Africans contribute approximately 40% of the total current fuel levy to the RAF, a fund meant to provide medical and financial compensation for victims of road accidents. Yet, despite this substantial public contribution, the RAF is in crisis and the victims bear the brunt as they wait for compensation, professor Hennie Klopper, an authority on third-party compensation law, says.
Die nasionale krisis vereis dringende optrede
Written by prof. Hennie Klopper | published on 26 November, 2024 | Maroela Media Elke keer wanneer jy jou motor volmaak, is ʼn deel van jou betaling ʼn reddingsboei vir padbotsingslagoffers – of ten minste, dit behoort so te wees. Suid-Afrikaners dra ongeveer 40% van die totale huidige brandstofheffing by tot die Padongeluksfonds (POF) – ʼn fonds wat bedoel is om mediese en finansiële vergoeding aan slagoffers van padverkeerbotsings te verskaf. Ten spyte van hierdie aansienlike openbare bydrae, is die POF in ʼn finansiële en operasionele krisis vasgevang, wat slagoffers tot agt jaar laat wag vir vergoeding. Die werklikheid van hierdie vertragings is nie net ʼn burokratiese ongerief nie – dit is ʼn direkte aanslag op kwesbare mense. Slagoffers ly as gevolg van onbehandelde beserings, verergerende mediese toestande en toenemende finansiële laste. Intussen vervaag die publiek se vertroue in die POF omdat POF-leierskap hul verantwoordelikheid ontwyk en geen tasbare oplossings