Road Accident Fund (RAF) South Africa: Key News & Updates – October 2026

Road Accident Fund (RAF) South Africa: Key News & Updates – October 2026

The Road Accident Fund (RAF) continues to dominate South African headlines as the embattled state insurer grapples with a mounting financial crisis, sweeping leadership changes, landmark court rulings, and urgent calls for legislative reform. Here is a comprehensive roundup of the most important RAF developments as of October 2026.

1. No Additional Government Funding for the RAF

In one of the most significant announcements of the month, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy confirmed that the Road Accident Fund will not receive any additional funding from the government. The RAF had lobbied for a fuel levy increase to R3.00 per litre, but Minister Creecy rejected the proposal, citing the financial pressure already faced by South African motorists.

Creecy stated that the priority is to fix the institution’s management and governance challenges before seeking new revenue streams. She acknowledged the complexity of the task:

“Obviously, it’s very easy to break an institution, it takes a very long time to fix it and this is a complicated one because there’s a lot of contingent liability.”

The minister also confirmed that a new CEO has been appointed and that the process of appointing a permanent board is underway.

2. New CEO Appointed: Waseem Carrim Takes the Helm

Cabinet has approved the appointment of Mr Waseem Carrim as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Road Accident Fund. This appointment comes after a prolonged period of leadership instability at the RAF, which included the dissolution of the previous board in July 2025 and the departure of former CEO Collins Letsoalo. The new CEO is expected to lead the RAF’s turnaround strategy and restore public confidence in the fund.

3. RAF’s Staggering Claims Backlog: R43 Billion and Growing

The RAF’s financial situation remains dire. According to the fund’s board chair, the RAF is unlikely to overcome its R43-billion claims load. Key statistics paint a troubling picture:

• The RAF has more than R21.7 billion in finalised claims that have not yet been paid out to claimants.
• More than half of all open RAF claims are now older than five years, according to the fund’s latest annual report.
• The RAF paid R8.9 billion on 80,665 claims during the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year (April–June 2026).
• The interim board previously committed to paying more than R4 billion per month to clear the backlog.

These figures underscore the scale of the crisis facing thousands of road accident victims who are waiting years — in some cases, over a decade — for compensation.

4. SCA Ruling Triggers Surge of Nearly 160,000 New Claims

A landmark Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) judgment on 30 April 2026 has had far-reaching consequences for the RAF. The SCA directed the RAF to revert to the 2008 RAF 1 Form, setting aside the more stringent 2022 version that had been used to reject tens of thousands of claims.

The ruling allowed claimants whose submissions were previously rejected under the 2022 regime to resubmit their claims using the 2008 form by 30 September 2026. The financial implications are enormous:

• The RAF was preparing for approximately 159,591 resubmitted claims.
• By 1 July 2026, the fund had already received 62,643 claims in this post-judgment stream.
• Applying the RAF’s average payment of R283,595 per claim to the projected total produces a potential liability of approximately R45.3 billion — though this is not a formal forecast.
• The RAF brought in additional contractors, interns, and overtime staff to manage the intake surge.

5. RAF Act Amendments on the Way: Foreign Nationals, Capped Claims & Mediation

The Department of Transport’s Acting Director-General, Mokonyama Mathabatha, briefed Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Transport on 6 October 2026, confirming that amendments to the RAF Act are being finalised. The proposed changes cover four key areas:

1. Capped claims – introducing defined benefit schedules to make the scheme financially sustainable.
2. Rehabilitation – improving support for injured claimants.
3. Mediation and conciliation – streamlining dispute resolution processes.
4. Claims by foreign nationals – addressing court rulings that directed the RAF to pay illegal residents.

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

The ATM party has also called for RAF payouts to be limited to South African citizens, a position debated in the National Assembly.

6. A Hybrid Funding Model for the Future

With the rise of electric vehicles (EVs) gradually eroding fuel levy revenue — the RAF’s primary funding source — Minister Creecy has called for South Africa to consider a hybrid funding model. The proposed system would ensure that both petrol/diesel motorists and EV drivers contribute to the RAF.

“We probably would have to have a hybrid system in the short-term because there would be those who would not be buying fuel and those who would be, but in the medium-term, we can expect that less and less contribution would be coming from the fuel levy.” — Minister Barbara Creecy

Experts and advocacy groups, however, warn that redesigning the funding model will achieve little unless the RAF’s governance and operational failures are addressed first.

7. SCOPA Inquiry: Accountability for Past Failures

Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA), chaired by Songezo Zibi, has been conducting a wide-ranging inquiry into the RAF’s governance failures, procurement irregularities, and financial mismanagement. Key outcomes include:

• SCOPA has recommended that former RAF executives and board members personally repay unaccounted funds spent during their tenure.
• Criminal charges have been laid against former CEO Collins Letsoalo, who failed to appear before the committee when summoned.
• The inquiry has exposed years of dysfunction that left thousands of victims waiting for compensation while billions flowed through the fund.

8. RAF Extends Services to Mthatha and Other Regions

On a more positive note, the RAF announced it will extend its Claimant-Centred Services to Mthatha on 24 October 2026, bringing its Extended Services programme to more communities across South Africa. The RAF has also recently opened a Hospital Service Centre in North West and extended services to Bloemfontein, as part of its drive to improve accessibility for claimants in underserved areas.

9. Discovery Wins SCA Appeal Against RAF Medical Expense Deductions

In a related legal development, Discovery Health won a Supreme Court of Appeal ruling against the RAF regarding medical expense deductions. The judgment has implications for how the RAF handles medical aid contributions in its claims calculations, adding another layer of financial complexity to the fund’s obligations.

What Does This Mean for RAF Claimants?

If you have a pending RAF claim or are considering lodging one, here are the key takeaways:

• Delays remain severe — many claimants are waiting five years or more for resolution.
• Legislative changes are coming — proposed amendments may affect the value and nature of future claims, particularly for foreign nationals and those seeking general damages.
• New leadership is in place — the appointment of a new CEO and the ongoing board appointment process signal a commitment to reform, though results will take time.
• If your claim was rejected under the 2022 RAF 1 Form, the 30 September 2026 resubmission deadline has now passed — consult your attorney urgently if you have not yet acted.
• Seek legal advice — given the complexity of the RAF system, working with an experienced RAF attorney remains the most effective way to navigate your claim.

Conclusion: A Fund at a Crossroads

The Road Accident Fund stands at a critical juncture. With a new CEO, pending legislative reforms, a hybrid funding model under consideration, and billions in outstanding claims, 2026 is shaping up to be a defining year for South Africa’s road accident compensation system. The coming months will reveal whether the RAF’s new leadership can deliver on its promises — and whether the government’s reform agenda will translate into real relief for the hundreds of thousands of South Africans waiting for justice.

Stay updated on the latest RAF news by bookmarking this page. We publish daily updates on Road Accident Fund developments in South Africa.

Sources: EWN, IOL, Moneyweb, Moonstone Information Refinery, Gert Nel Inc Attorneys, AllAfrica, Parliament of South Africa, Africa24 TV, RAF Official Media Statements.