CHECK OUT: Learn at Your Own Pace! Our Flexible Online Course allows you to fit copywriting skills development around your busy schedule. Enroll Now!
Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has spent a decade reporting on the South African political landscape, crime and social issues.
The Road Accident Fund (RAF) owes R1,5 billion to foreign nationals.
That figure was released in RAF's annual performance report for the 2023/24 financial year.
While the figure is relatively high, it represents just a tiny percentage of the actual monies paid out during the period.
The issue of foreign nationals claiming from the fund has previously caused a debate among South Africans.
Recent fatal crashes involving Zimbabwean nationals had many questioning whether it was a scam to defraud the RAF.
Last year, RAF CEO Collins Letsoalo even suggested they were looking to amend the bill to stop payouts to foreign nationals.
He explained at that stage that they could not afford to make payments to foreigners.
According to the financial report, RAF paid R45,1 bn in claims during the past financial year.
Most of the payouts were made to victims who could work following car accidents.
79,377 claims were registered during the period, but of these, only 63,015 were approved.
The report indicated that R12,7 billion was paid for general damages, R2,6 billion for loss of support, and R1,7 billion for medical compensation.
R47 million was paid to cover the funeral costs of victims.
Briefly News previously reported that citizens are concerned there could be a scam ongoing to defraud the RAF.
Many were under the belief that foreign nationals were getting into accidents on purpose to claim from the fund.
This comes after two separate crashes claimed the lives of 15 Zimbabwean nationals on South African roads.
2024-09-16T12:35:52Z dg43tfdfdgfd