The Road Accident Fund (RAF) has welcomed the sentencing of an Eastern Cape woman who attempted to defraud the public entity of nearly R700,000 through falsified accident claims.
Thembisa Lawana Dakuse, aged 38, was convicted in the Cradock Regional Court last week for submitting a fraudulent claim involving a 2018 road accident. According to the RAF, Dakuse lodged two separate versions of the same claim — first claiming she had been in a car crash in Motherwell, and later asserting she was a pedestrian struck by a vehicle while walking home from work.
Investigations by the Hawks revealed that she had not only fabricated the circumstances of the accident but also falsely claimed to be unable to work due to the injuries, despite being unemployed at the time.
On April 4, 2025, the court sentenced Dakuse to two years’ direct imprisonment, suspended for five years, effectively placing her under close legal scrutiny for any further infractions during that time.
The RAF expressed concern about the impact of fraudulent claims on its resources. According to the Fund, such activities threaten its ability to deliver services to genuine accident victims.
From 2021/22 to 2023/24, the RAF blocked fraudulent claims worth R65 million and saw the arrest of 37 individuals in connection with fraudulent submissions totalling R48 million. During the same period, 1,138 cases were referred to the South African Police Service, resulting in 44 arrests made possible through collaborations with law enforcement.
“Corruption continues to plague the organisation, and we will continue to guard against crooked claimants, medical experts, attorneys and employees,” said RAF CEO Collins Letsoalo. He urged the public to report any suspicious claims and reaffirmed the RAF’s commitment to rigorous scrutiny in its claims process.
Claimants and the public can contact the RAF through various platforms, including WhatsApp, SMS, email, or by visiting www.raf.co.za
