Road Accident Fund (RAF) South Africa: Latest News, Updates & Key Developments – August 2026

The Road Accident Fund (RAF) continues to dominate South African headlines as the entity navigates a complex landscape of record payouts, a growing claims backlog, landmark court rulings, and sweeping reform efforts. Here is a comprehensive roundup of the most important RAF news and developments as of August 2026.

1. RAF Pays R8.9 Billion in Q1 2026/27 – But Payment Queue Keeps Growing

The Road Accident Fund 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 R5.8 billion paid in the same quarter of the previous year.

Despite this surge, the Requested Not Yet Paid (RNYP) balance increased from R18.56 billion to R22.18 billion, as R12.57 billion in new claims entered the pipeline while only R8.95 billion was paid out.

Breakdown of the R8.9 Billion Paid:

• Loss of earnings: R4.831 billion
• Plaintiff legal and costs: R2.018 billion
• General damages: R1.358 billion
• Loss of support: R291 million
• Past medical expenses: R276 million
• Future medical expenses: R160 million
• RAF legal and costs: R51 million
• Funeral costs: R4 million

The average payment per claim was approximately R283,595. Acting CEO Radikwena Phora presented these figures to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Transport on 11 August 2026, noting that the RAF can receive as little as R4 billion per month in fuel levy income while its payment queue can exceed R20 billion.

2. R21.7 Billion in Finalised Claims Still Unpaid

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy revealed in a parliamentary reply that the RAF holds more than R21.76 billion in finalised but unpaid claims. As at 28 June 2026, 37,622 claims involving 47,949 payment transactions remained outstanding.

Main reasons for delayed payments:

• Outstanding compliance checks – 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

Many outstanding claims date back to 2007, with 36,442 claims spanning the period 2007-2026.

3. Open Claims Book: 301,203 Active Claims

As of 30 June 2026, the RAF had 301,203 open claims: 253,837 personal injury claims and 47,366 supplier claims. A total of 263,801 claims (88%) remain on the older Legacy system, while 37,402 are on the newer Bokamoso integrated claims management system. During the quarter, 31,269 new claims were registered and 17,428 were finalised and closed.

4. Supreme Court of Appeal Rules on RAF 1 Form

A landmark Supreme Court of Appeal judgement on 30 April 2026 directed the RAF to revert to the 2008 RAF 1 Form. Key implications:

• Previously rejected claims (lodged from 6 May 2022 onwards) that met minimum legal requirements will be accepted for re-processing.
• Claims previously accepted using the 2022 form do not need to be resubmitted.
• Rejected claims will not prescribe up to and including 30 September 2026 and will retain their original submission date.

Contact the RAF Contact Centre: 087 820 1 111 (Mon-Fri, 07:45-16:00), WhatsApp: 071 605 4707, SMS: 44930, Email: contactcentre@raf.co.za.

5. RAF Shows Signs of Recovery – Parliament Calls for Faster Reform

Portfolio Committee Chairperson Donald Selamolela stated that the RAF is on the road to recovery, while acknowledging it remains a challenged entity. Deputy Transport Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa described the reform process as fixing an aeroplane while airborne and flagged a missing link in the ecosystem – cases where attorneys receive RAF payments without claimants being informed.

6. RAF Funding Model Under Review – Possible New Vehicle Fee

Currently funded through a fuel levy of R2.25 per litre, the RAF carries an estimated R500 billion in total debt. Minister Creecy confirmed a structured review of the funding framework is underway, with a mandatory vehicle-linked fee on annual licence renewals being considered. The proposal has drawn criticism from motoring organisations.

7. Community Outreach: RAF Takes Services to the People

The RAF’s boots on the ground outreach campaign reached Kokstad on 14 August 2026, offering residents the opportunity to register claims, submit documents, check claim status, and report unscrupulous attorneys and touts.

8. Statutory Cap for Loss of Income Claims Increased

As of 31 January 2026, the RAF increased the statutory cap for loss of income and loss of support claims, raising the maximum compensation available to claimants who suffered income loss due to road accidents.

Key Takeaways for RAF Claimants in August 2026

1. If your claim was rejected after May 2022 due to the RAF 1 Form issue, re-lodge it before 30 September 2026.
2. If you are waiting for payment, check for outstanding compliance or documentation issues in the RNYP register.
3. Attend a community outreach event for direct RAF assistance.
4. Know your rights – if your attorney received a RAF payment, you are entitled to be informed.
5. Monitor the funding model review, as changes could affect levies and fees for all South African motorists.

Conclusion

The Road Accident Fund is at a critical juncture. Record payouts and reform commitments signal progress, but the growing claims backlog, billions in unpaid finalised claims, and structural funding challenges highlight a system still under severe strain. Staying informed and proactive remains essential for accident victims navigating the RAF claims process.

Stay updated on the latest Road Accident Fund news by bookmarking this page. For personalised legal advice on RAF claims, consult a qualified attorney.