Road Accident Fund (RAF) South Africa: Key Updates, Challenges & Reforms – September 2026

Published: 10 September 2026

South Africa’s Road Accident Fund (RAF) continues to dominate headlines as the embattled state entity grapples with a mounting claims backlog, a landmark court ruling, billions in unpaid claims, and growing calls for sweeping reform. Here is a comprehensive roundup of the most important RAF developments you need to know right now.

1. RAF Shows Signs of Recovery – But Reform Must Accelerate

The Chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Transport, Mr Donald Selamolela, has stated that the RAF is “on the road to recovery,” pushing back against widespread public pessimism about the Fund’s future.

“We are satisfied that indeed there is work happening to improve governance and stabilise the operation of the RAF,” Selamolela said. “The negativity around how the entity is viewed by the public should cease, and our focus should be to service the claimants.”

Deputy Minister of Transport Mkhuleko Hlengwa, who accompanied the RAF board before the committee, likened the reform process to “fixing an aeroplane while airborne” – acknowledging the complexity of overhauling a functioning institution under pressure. He confirmed that reforming the RAF remains a government priority, with direct claims processing identified as an immediate area of focus.

Despite cautious optimism, the committee called on the Department of Transport to urgently review RAF legislation to close all existing loopholes.

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

One of the most significant developments of 2026 is the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) judgment handed down on 30 April 2026, which set aside the RAF’s controversial 2022 RAF 1 Form regime and reinstated the original 2008 version.

The court found that the RAF had unlawfully introduced more stringent documentation requirements at the point of claim lodgement, effectively creating barriers that excluded tens of thousands of legitimate claimants. The Minister of Transport’s approval of the revised form was also declared unlawful, as the required public participation process had not taken place.

As a result, claimants whose submissions were previously rejected under the 2022 regime were given the opportunity to resubmit using the 2008 RAF 1 Form by 30 September 2026. Crucially, successfully resubmitted claims are treated as having been lodged on the original submission date, protecting them from prescription.

The Numbers Are Staggering

• By 1 July 2026, the RAF had already received 62,643 post-judgment claims.
• Of these, 95% (59,306) were personal injury claims and 5% (3,337) were supplier claims.
• Weekly intake peaked at 12,077 claims in a single week in June 2026.
• The RAF projects a total of 159,591 claims by the 30 September deadline.
• Applying the RAF’s average payment of R283,595 per claim, the potential financial exposure could reach approximately R45.3 billion – though this is not an official forecast.

The RAF has responded by bringing in additional contractors and interns, introducing overtime, reorganising staff, and reconfiguring its Bokamoso Integrated Claims Management System to accommodate the reinstated 2008 form.

3. R21.7 Billion in Finalised Claims Still Unpaid

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy revealed in a parliamentary reply that the RAF is sitting with a staggering R21.76 billion in finalised claims that have not yet been paid to accident victims.

According to the RAF’s Requested Not Yet Paid (RNYP) Claims Register, as at 28 June 2026:

• 37,622 claims worth R21.76 billion remain unpaid.
• These claims involve 47,949 payment transactions.
• The majority of unpaid claims (worth nearly R11 billion) are held up by outstanding compliance checks.
• Verification delays account for claims worth more than R9.1 billion.
• Missing documents affect claims worth approximately R1.7 billion.
• Many claims date back to as far as 2007.

The Minister also confirmed that the Department of Transport is reviewing the RAF’s funding model, with a possible new vehicle-linked fee attached to annual licence renewals or initial vehicle registrations being considered as a supplementary funding mechanism.

4. R23 Billion in Claims Lodged by Foreign Nationals

Minister Creecy also disclosed that over the past five financial years, foreign nationals lodged 13,127 claims against the RAF totalling more than R23 billion. Of this amount, the RAF paid out more than R6 billion to foreign claimants over the same period.

The revelation has sparked public debate about the RAF’s eligibility criteria and whether the current framework – which allows any person injured by a motor vehicle in South Africa to claim, regardless of nationality – remains sustainable given the Fund’s financial pressures.

5. APRAV Proposes a National Settlement Hub to Clear the Backlog

The Association for the Protection of Road Accident Victims (APRAV) has put forward a bold proposal to address the RAF’s crisis: the creation of a National Settlement Hub.

APRAV vice chair Pieter de Bruyn, speaking at the National Press Club in Pretoria, argued that less than 5% of RAF claims are genuinely in dispute, yet 90% of claims end up in court – generating a legal bill of R6 billion that he attributes directly to the RAF’s failure to execute its mandate.

How the Settlement Hub Would Work

1. Sort claims into those ready to settle, those needing minor additional information, and those genuinely disputed.
2. Centralise documentation – bring all legal, medical, and financial evidence into a single complete file per claim.
3. Empower decision-makers – assign each claim to a dedicated team with real authority to settle, supported by legal, medical, or actuarial experts where needed.
4. Settle undisputed portions immediately and send only genuine disagreements to court.
5. Track every case until the claimant is actually paid.

The proposal would require approximately R16 billion from National Treasury to clear the existing backlog. De Bruyn was emphatic: “This is really not a bailout.” Unlike bailouts for the SABC, SAA, or Eskom, this funding would go directly to accident victims who have been waiting for compensation for up to a decade.

SCOPA chair Songezo Zibi acknowledged that the RAF is “chronically underfunded” and that even resolving its governance and operational problems will not be sufficient without addressing the funding shortfall.

6. RAF’s First Quarter 2026/27 Performance

Despite its challenges, the RAF paid out R8.9 billion across 80,665 claims during the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year (April to June 2026) – a 54% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. This suggests that operational improvements are beginning to yield results, even as the overall backlog and financial pressures remain severe.

7. Funding Model Under Review: Could Motorists Pay More?

The RAF is currently funded primarily through a fuel levy on petrol and diesel, generating approximately R4.2 billion per month. However, with the Fund’s liabilities far outpacing its income, the government is exploring alternative funding mechanisms.

Options under consideration include:

• A vehicle-linked fee attached to annual licence renewals or initial vehicle registrations.
• A hybrid funding model combining the existing fuel levy, an optional insurance top-up for additional benefits, and private sector involvement.

APRAV’s De Bruyn dismissed the idea that the rise of electric vehicles (EVs) poses a significant near-term threat to fuel levy revenues, noting: “This is Africa, not Europe. The uptake of EVs in South Africa will remain miniscule and in no way a significant risk to the fuel levy.”

What This Means for RAF Claimants

If you have a pending or rejected RAF claim, here is what you need to know:

• 30 September 2026 deadline: If your claim was rejected under the 2022 RAF 1 Form regime, you must resubmit using the 2008 RAF 1 Form before this date to preserve your claim date and avoid prescription.
• Direct claims: The RAF is actively promoting direct claims (without attorneys) as part of its reform drive. Contact the RAF directly via their WhatsApp line: 071 605 4707.
• Legal costs: Be aware of contingency fee arrangements with attorneys. The RAF issued a media statement on 7 September 2026 reminding claimants of their rights regarding legal costs.
• Patience required: With nearly 160,000 additional claims expected by end of September, processing times are likely to remain extended. Claimants are encouraged to track their claims actively.

Conclusion: A Fund at a Crossroads

The Road Accident Fund stands at a critical juncture. The SCA’s landmark ruling has opened the floodgates to tens of thousands of previously excluded claims, adding enormous pressure to an already strained system. At the same time, parliamentary oversight is intensifying, reform proposals are gaining traction, and the government is being forced to confront the Fund’s long-term funding sustainability.

For the millions of South Africans who depend on the RAF for compensation after road accidents, the coming months will be decisive. Whether the proposed Settlement Hub, funding model reforms, and governance improvements can translate into faster, fairer payouts remains to be seen – but the pressure for change has never been greater.

Stay updated on the latest RAF news and developments by bookmarking this page. If you have a pending RAF claim, consult a qualified attorney or contact the RAF directly for guidance.

Sources: Africa24 TV, IOL Business, Moonstone Information Refinery, Moneyweb, TopAuto, Newsday, Road Accident Fund Media Statements (raf.co.za)