In a resounding victory against fraudulent activities, the Road Accident Fund (RAF) has successfully put a halt to deceptive claims amounting to a staggering R2,605,641,281.07 over the past three financial years. This achievement is attributed to the relentless efforts of the RAF’s Forensic Investigation Department working hand-in-hand with various law enforcement agencies.
In the financial year 2022/2023 alone, the RAF repudiated 713 fraudulent claims, building on the momentum from the previous years with 448 claims in 2021/22 and a substantial 4,172 claims in 2020/21. The pursuit of justice has seen 32 individuals brought to book, with 15 arrests in 2022/23, 12 in 2021/22, and five in 2020/2021. Notably, an attorney received the highest sentence of 12 years of direct imprisonment, underscoring the severity of the consequences for those involved in fraudulent activities.
The RAF’s commitment to combatting corruption extends both internally and externally. Perpetrators span various backgrounds, including doctors, attorneys, RAF employees, road accident victims, and corporate company employees with access to crash information. The crimes committed against the RAF range from the submission of fraudulent claims to solicitation of funds from claimants and outright theft of claimants’ funds.
Internally, the RAF’s rigorous investigations led to the suspension of seven staff members between 2020/21 and 2022/23, with six additional resignations during ongoing probes. Externally, the net cast by the RAF has resulted in numerous cases being referred to the South African Police Services (SAPS) following preliminary investigations. In 2022/23 alone, 449 cases were referred to SAPS, 270 in 2021/2022, and 172 in 2020/21.
Collins Letsoalo, the RAF Chief Executive Officer, emphasized the Fund’s unwavering commitment to staying vigilant and investigating each case diligently. Addressing the broader impact of fraud, Letsoalo stated,
Fraud continues to represent a significant risk to the RAF’s assets, service delivery, efficiency, and reputation. It robs claimants and dependents of the deceased of their livelihood and creates a negative impact on the socio-economic status of the country.
He further reassured the public that the RAF will continue to vigorously pursue any party—internally or externally—engaging in fraudulent activities or attempting to do so.
Individuals suspecting fraudulent activities against the Fund are encouraged to contact the RAF anonymously at 0800 005 919. In the unfortunate event of a motor vehicle accident, the RAF Contact Centre is reachable at the new number, 087 820 1 111, from Monday to Friday, 07h45 to 16h00. Additionally, the RAF can be reached through its offices nationwide, with details available on its website at www.raf.co.za.
