Road Accident Fund in Crisis: Unpaid Claims, New CEO, and Calls for Reform — October 2026 Update

Introduction

South Africa’s Road Accident Fund (RAF) continues to make headlines in 2026, and not for the right reasons. From a staggering R21.76 billion in unpaid finalised claims and a landmark Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) ruling, to the appointment of a new CEO and growing calls for institutional reform, the RAF remains one of the country’s most embattled public entities. This article summarises the key developments shaping the RAF landscape as of October 2026.

1. R21.76 Billion in Unpaid Claims — Accident Victims Left Waiting

One of the most alarming revelations of 2026 came from Transport Minister Barbara Creecy, who disclosed in a parliamentary reply that the RAF is sitting on 37,622 finalised claims worth R21.76 billion that have not yet been paid out to claimants — as at 28 June 2026.

These claims span 47,949 payment transactions, many dating back as far as 2007. The RAF tracks these through its internal Requested Not Yet Paid (RNYP) Claims Register.

The main reasons cited for the delays include:

• Outstanding compliance requirements — affecting claims worth nearly R11 billion
• Verification delays — affecting claims worth more than R9.1 billion
• Missing documents — affecting claims worth approximately R1.7 billion

The revelation sparked outrage among opposition parties, with ActionSA MP Alan Beesley having originally tabled the parliamentary question. Critics argue that the delays represent a systemic failure that is causing immense hardship to vulnerable road accident victims.

2. Court Action Launched Over Non-Payment of 430+ Finalised Claims

The payment crisis has escalated to the courts. De Broglio Attorneys launched a formal court application against the RAF in June 2026, following the continued non-payment of more than 430 finalised claims — despite settlement agreements having been concluded or court orders already granted.

The application seeks a court order compelling the RAF to provide full reasons and detailed explanations for its failure to pay within the prescribed 180-day payment period. In some instances, claimants have waited more than two years for compensation that was already legally agreed upon.

Among the affected claimants is Rory Meintjies, a 29-year-old who was left permanently paralysed from the waist down after a devastating road accident four years ago. Despite a court award having been granted in his case, he and his family are still waiting for payment.

“These are not numbers on a spreadsheet. They are individuals whose lives have already been fundamentally changed by serious road accidents.” — Michael de Broglio, Director of de Broglio Attorneys

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) has also intensified scrutiny of the RAF, going as far as laying criminal charges against former RAF CEO Collins Letsoalo for failing to comply with a parliamentary summons.

3. SCA Ruling Forces RAF to Revive Hundreds of Thousands of Rejected Claims

In a landmark judgment on 30 April 2026, the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) directed the RAF to revert to the 2008 RAF 1 Form for claims processing. The ruling found that changes made to the claims process had unfairly raised the bar for accident victims, effectively excluding many legitimate claimants.

The consequences are enormous: the RAF now faces the daunting task of re-rolling hundreds of thousands of previously rejected claims — some dating back four years. Reports indicate that the RAF faces a surge of almost 160,000 revived claims following the SCA ruling, adding billions more to an already overwhelmed system.

The RAF has also been moving to curb default judgments, which have historically added significant costs to the fund’s liabilities.

4. New CEO Appointed: Waseem Carrim Takes the Helm on 1 November 2026

In a significant leadership development, Cabinet approved the appointment of Waseem Carrim as the new CEO of the Road Accident Fund, effective 1 November 2026. Carrim, who previously served as acting CEO of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), will become the fifth RAF CEO in just over a year — a statistic that underscores the institution’s deep governance instability.

Carrim has vowed to address what he describes as a culture of “low trust” within the embattled fund. He inherits a fund with:

• Liabilities exceeding R400–R450 billion
• A claims backlog in the hundreds of thousands
• R22.18 billion in settled but unpaid claims as at end of June 2026 (up R3.62 billion in just three months)
• Ongoing parliamentary and public scrutiny

The RAF board, which was dissolved by Minister Creecy in July 2025 due to persistent governance and operational failures, has since been reconstituted with an interim board. The appointment of Carrim is seen as a critical step in stabilising the institution.

5. Funding Model Under Review — New Vehicle Tax Proposed

The Department of Transport has signalled that it is reviewing the RAF’s funding model. Currently, the RAF is primarily funded through a fuel levy — set at R2.25 per litre as of April 2026, up from R2.18 in 2025. However, the rise of electric and hybrid vehicles is expected to gradually erode this revenue stream.

Among the options being considered is a vehicle-linked fee attached to annual vehicle licence renewals or initial registrations — effectively a new tax on motorists. The proposal has been met with significant pushback from motoring organisations and civil society.

Wayne Duvenage, CEO of the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), argued in a widely-read Daily Maverick opinion piece that the RAF’s crisis is not a revenue problem — it is a governance and management problem:

“RAF revenue grew from about R12.5 billion in 2010 to more than R50 billion in 2024/25. Yet performance deteriorated. The government must stop trying to rearrange the deckchairs on the Titanic. Fix the ship.” — Wayne Duvenage, OUTA

Duvenage pointed out that employee costs ballooned from R590 million in 2010 to R2.47 billion, while general and administrative costs grew from R240 million to R1.5 billion — far outpacing inflation. He argues that introducing a new funding mechanism without first fixing the institution would simply pour more money into a broken system.

6. RAF Claim Limits Hiked in Line with Inflation

On a more procedural note, the RAF has increased its maximum claim cap in line with inflation. The new cap for maximum claims is R347,730. This adjustment is part of the RAF’s annual review process and affects the maximum compensation payable for certain categories of claims.

7. RAF Settlement Drive at Hospitals

In a bid to reduce its backlog, the RAF hosted a Settlement Drive at Ngwelezane Hospital in February 2026 — the second instalment of this initiative. The settlement drives are designed to fast-track the resolution of claims by bringing RAF officials directly to hospitals where accident victims are being treated, allowing for on-the-spot assessments and settlements.

Key Trends and Takeaways

The following key themes emerge from the latest RAF news:

1. Payment crisis deepening: The R21.76 billion unpaid claims backlog is growing, not shrinking, placing enormous strain on accident victims and their families.
2. Legal accountability increasing: Courts and parliament are stepping up pressure on the RAF to honour its obligations, with criminal charges and court applications becoming more common.
3. Leadership instability: Five CEOs in just over a year reflects a deeply dysfunctional institution in need of sustained, credible leadership.
4. SCA ruling adds complexity: The reversal of the claims process and the revival of hundreds of thousands of rejected claims will significantly increase the RAF’s already massive liability.
5. Funding debate intensifying: The proposed vehicle-linked fee is controversial, with critics arguing that reform — not more revenue — is the priority.
6. Reform is urgent: Experts and civil society organisations are united in calling for institutional reform, improved governance, and credible actuarial and claims management before any new funding mechanisms are introduced.

What Should Road Accident Victims Do?

If you or a loved one has been involved in a road accident in South Africa, here is what you need to know about claiming from the RAF:

• You have three years from the date of the accident (or from when you became aware of the claim) to lodge a claim with the RAF.
• Claims can be lodged directly with the RAF or through an attorney.
• The RAF covers loss of income, medical expenses, and general damages for road accident victims.
• Given the current payment delays, it is advisable to work with an experienced RAF attorney who can help navigate the process and, if necessary, take legal action to enforce payment.
• Keep all documentation related to your accident, medical treatment, and loss of income.

Conclusion

The Road Accident Fund remains in a state of deep crisis as of October 2026. With billions in unpaid claims, a new CEO inheriting a mountain of challenges, a landmark court ruling adding to the backlog, and a contentious funding debate underway, the road ahead for the RAF — and for South Africa’s road accident victims — remains uncertain.

What is clear is that meaningful reform, credible leadership, and genuine accountability are urgently needed. South Africans who depend on the RAF for compensation deserve better than a system that leaves them waiting years for money they are legally owed.

Stay informed about the latest RAF developments by bookmarking this page. We publish daily updates on the Road Accident Fund and other key South African legal and financial news.