Road Accident Fund South Africa: Key Updates, Reforms & What You Need to Know (October 2026)

The Road Accident Fund (RAF) in South Africa is undergoing one of its most significant periods of change in recent years. From a new CEO appointment and sweeping legislative amendments to a surge of nearly 160,000 resubmitted claims following a landmark Supreme Court of Appeal ruling, October 2026 brings a wave of critical developments that affect millions of South Africans. Here is a comprehensive overview of the latest RAF news and what it means for claimants, legal professionals, and the public.

1. New CEO Appointed: Waseem Carrim Takes the Helm

In one of the most significant leadership changes at the RAF in years, Cabinet approved the permanent appointment of Waseem Carrim as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Road Accident Fund in September 2026. Carrim, a former CEO of the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and acting CEO of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), was announced by Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni following a post-Cabinet briefing.

In his first public interview following the appointment, Carrim acknowledged the scale of the challenge ahead:

“The reputation of the Road Accident Fund does precede itself. But in my view, there’s nothing that’s not fixable within the state — it just needs a little bit of political will and support.”

Carrim identified the claims backlog as his most immediate priority, noting that the Fund has a substantial number of outstanding court judgments that remain unresolved, leading to asset attachments and high litigation costs. He also highlighted the need to address structural issues including revenue streams, payout values, and the legislative environment to put the RAF on a path toward long-term sustainability.

On the issue of claimants relying on law firms — and the associated legal fees eating into payouts — Carrim said the solution lies in rebuilding trust in the Fund’s direct claims process and simplifying it so that ordinary South Africans can navigate it without legal intermediaries.

2. Government Moves to Amend RAF Legislation

On 6 October 2026, the Department of Transport briefed Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Transport on proposed amendments to the Road Accident Fund Act. Acting Transport Director-General Mokonyama Mathabatha confirmed that the government is finalising changes in four key areas:

• Capped claims — Reviewing how compensation limits are applied
• Rehabilitation — Improving how injured claimants access rehabilitation services
• Mediation and conciliation — Introducing alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to reduce court congestion
• Foreign national claims — Addressing the legal status of claims by undocumented or foreign nationals

Mathabatha was direct about the urgency of reform:

“All these issues are in the amendment Act that we are finalising. The Act in its current form makes the scheme not sustainable.”

Important note for claimants: These amendments have not yet been enacted into law. The proposed changes must still be tabled before Parliament and go through the full legislative process before they take effect. Until then, the existing RAF Act and claims framework remains in force.

The Foreign Nationals Issue

One of the more legally complex elements of the proposed amendments involves claims by foreign nationals. Courts — including the Gauteng High Court in the Mudawo matter and subsequent Western Cape and Gauteng High Court judgments in 2025 — have consistently found that the existing RAF Act does not permit the exclusion of undocumented foreign nationals from RAF benefits, as the Act refers to compensation for “any person.” The government’s proposed amendment seeks to address this gap legislatively.

3. RAF Faces Surge of Nearly 160,000 Claims After SCA Ruling

The RAF is grappling with a massive influx of resubmitted claims following the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) judgment of 30 April 2026, which set aside the 2022 RAF 1 Form regime and reinstated the 2008 version of the form.

Background: The RAF 1 Form Dispute

In 2022, the RAF — with ministerial approval — introduced a revised RAF 1 Form (Board Notice 302) that imposed stricter documentation requirements at the point of lodgement. The stated aim was to reduce the backlog of incomplete claims clogging the system. However, the Gauteng High Court declared the revised form unlawful in March 2024, and the SCA confirmed this ruling on 30 April 2026, finding that:

• The RAF lacked the authority to impose additional binding requirements
• The required public participation process had not taken place
• The revised form created barriers to lodging claims by requiring extensive documentation upfront

The Claims Surge

As a result of the SCA ruling, claimants whose submissions were rejected under the 2022 regime were given until 30 September 2026 to resubmit using the 2008 RAF 1 Form. The numbers are staggering:

• By 1 July 2026, the RAF had already received 62,643 claims in this post-judgment stream
• The RAF projected a total of 159,591 claims by the 30 September deadline
• Weekly intake peaked at 12,077 claims in the week of 9 June 2026
• Pretoria accounted for the largest share (29,958 claims), followed by Johannesburg (17,904)

Financial Implications

The RAF has estimated its RAF 1 Form liability at approximately R40.9 billion. Applying the Fund’s average payment of R283,595 per claim during Q1 2026/27 to the projected 159,591 claims produces an illustrative figure of around R45.3 billion — though the actual cost will depend on how individual claims are assessed and adjudicated.

For context, the RAF paid R8.9 billion on 80,665 claims during the first quarter of 2026/27 (April–June), highlighting the enormous scale of its operations even before this additional wave of claims.

To manage the surge, the RAF has brought in additional contractors and interns, introduced overtime, reorganised staff, and reconfigured its Bokamoso Integrated Claims Management System to accommodate the reinstated 2008 form.

4. DA MP Proposes Dedicated RAF Settlement Hub

Democratic Alliance Member of Parliament Patrick Atkinson has proposed the creation of a dedicated RAF Settlement Hub to streamline the processing of claims and reduce the Fund’s reliance on costly litigation. The proposal was put forward as part of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA)’s final recommendations following its investigation into allegations of financial mismanagement, maladministration, and wasteful expenditure at the RAF.

Atkinson argued that a settlement hub would:

• Save significant amounts in legal fees
• Reduce the number of matters going to court
• Speed up the resolution of claims for accident victims

“My suggestion is that we should definitely, in the process of making our recommendations, be looking at the idea of recommending a settlement hub — that will certainly save a lot of money in legal fees and cut down on matters going to court.”

5. Transport Committee: RAF “On the Road to Recovery”

Earlier in 2026, the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Transport, Mr Donald Selamolela, expressed cautious optimism about the RAF’s trajectory, stating that the Fund is “on the road to recovery” despite its well-documented challenges.

“We are satisfied that indeed there is work happening to improve governance and stabilise the operation of the RAF,” Selamolela said, while acknowledging that concerns about organisational structure remain and must be addressed urgently.

Deputy Minister of Transport Mkhuleko Hlengwa echoed this sentiment, describing the reform process as akin to “fixing an aeroplane while airborne” — a complex, ongoing effort that cannot be paused while the Fund continues to serve claimants.

What This Means for RAF Claimants

If you have a pending or potential RAF claim, here are the key takeaways from the latest developments:

1. The 30 September 2026 resubmission deadline has passed. If you had a claim rejected under the 2022 RAF 1 Form regime and did not resubmit by 30 September 2026, you may need to seek legal advice urgently regarding your options.
2. Legislative changes are coming — but are not yet law. The proposed amendments to the RAF Act covering claim caps, rehabilitation, mediation, and foreign national claims are still being finalised and must pass through Parliament before they affect your claim.
3. Direct claims remain an option. The new CEO has signalled a commitment to making the direct claims process more accessible, which could reduce dependence on attorneys and improve outcomes for claimants.
4. Delays remain a significant challenge. The RAF continues to face a substantial backlog, and claimants should be prepared for lengthy processing times. Engaging a reputable attorney or paralegal remains advisable for complex claims.
5. Contact the RAF directly via their WhatsApp line at 071 605 4707 or visit www.raf.co.za for claim status updates.

Conclusion: A Fund at a Crossroads

The Road Accident Fund stands at a pivotal moment. With a new CEO committed to reform, sweeping legislative amendments in the pipeline, a massive claims surge to manage, and growing parliamentary scrutiny, the coming months will be decisive for the Fund’s future — and for the millions of South Africans who depend on it for compensation after road accidents.

Stay informed and check back regularly for the latest RAF news and updates.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have a specific RAF claim, please consult a qualified legal professional.