Road Accident Fund South Africa: Key Updates, Crisis & Reform News – September 2026

The Road Accident Fund (RAF) in South Africa continues to dominate headlines in 2026, with a wave of parliamentary revelations, governance failures, funding debates, and legal battles shaping the future of one of the country’s most embattled state entities. Here is a comprehensive roundup of the latest news and developments surrounding the RAF as of September 2026.

1. R21.7 Billion in Unpaid Claims: Thousands of Victims Still Waiting

One of the most alarming recent disclosures came from Transport Minister Barbara Creecy, who revealed in a parliamentary reply that the RAF is sitting with more than R21.76 billion in finalised claims that have not yet been paid out to accident victims.

According to the RAF’s internal Requested Not Yet Paid (RNYP) Claims Register, as at 28 June 2026, there were 37,622 unpaid claims involving 47,949 payment transactions. The main reasons cited for the delays include:

• 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

Disturbingly, many of these outstanding claims date back as far as 2007, with 36,442 claims spanning the period between 2007 and 2026. The revelation has intensified calls for urgent administrative reform within the fund.

2. R23 Billion in Claims Lodged by Foreign Nationals Over Five Years

Transport Minister Creecy also disclosed in Parliament that 13,127 foreign-related claims were lodged against the RAF between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2026, with a total claimed value of R23.3 billion. Of this amount, the RAF paid out approximately R6.3 billion over the same period.

The breakdown of foreign-related claims by financial year is as follows:

The minister clarified that the RAF’s claim management system does not differentiate between documented and undocumented foreign nationals, meaning the figures include all foreigner-related claims. Notably, the 2025/26 financial year saw a dramatic spike in foreign claims, reaching R8.53 billion — more than double the previous year.

The Department of Transport is currently appealing a Supreme Court of Appeal ruling that allowed undocumented foreign nationals to claim compensation from the RAF. Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa stated that the department believes the ruling was incorrect and is hopeful the appeal will succeed.

3. SCOPA Inquiry Exposes Deep Governance Failures

Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) has been conducting a comprehensive inquiry into the RAF, and its preliminary findings paint a damning picture of institutional dysfunction. The inquiry, launched in 2025, is expected to culminate in a report to the National Assembly with recommendations for sweeping reforms.

The Association for the Protection of Road Accident Victims (APRAV) held a National Press Club briefing in July 2026, where chairperson Ngoako Mohlaloga outlined the key failures exposed by the inquiry:

• Governance failures: Years of mismanagement, corruption, and poor personnel decisions
• Unlawful RAF 1 claim form: The Supreme Court of Appeal declared the form unlawful, finding it created barriers to accessing compensation by requiring expensive medical reports upfront
• Legal mismanagement: RAF legal teams repeatedly failed to appear in court, resulting in postponed cases, escalating legal costs, and longer delays for victims
• Leadership vacuum: Numerous senior management posts remain vacant or filled by acting officials
• Criminal charges: SCOPA laid criminal charges against former RAF CEO Collins Letsoalo in June 2026

APRAV vice-chairperson Peter de Bruyn was blunt in his assessment: “The evidence is now on the record. Nothing is hidden. The human and financial cost has been laid bare. The time for talk, minister and deputy minister, has come and gone. It’s time to act.”

De Bruyn also highlighted South Africa’s dire road safety record: “Fifty-five people die on South African roads every single day, with hundreds, if not thousands, more injured.”

4. R28.5 Million Paid to 16 Suspended Employees

Adding to the RAF’s financial woes, Minister Creecy revealed that the fund has paid R28.5 million to 16 employees currently on suspension. These employees were suspended between May 2024 and July 2026, with monthly salaries ranging from R48,796 to R333,874 before tax.

The suspensions are linked to ongoing disciplinary processes, and as per labour legislation, all suspensions are with pay pending finalisation. The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) previously found that the RAF colluded with criminal syndicates to pay out false claims.

Critics argue that while the government is attempting to clean up the RAF, the continued payment of suspended employees represents yet another drain on a fund that is already technically insolvent.

5. New Funding Model Under Review: A Vehicle Licence Tax on the Cards?

The RAF is currently funded primarily through the Road Accident Fund Levy — an R2.15-per-litre tax on every litre of petrol and diesel sold in South Africa. This levy generates approximately R45 billion per year, yet the fund remains technically insolvent due to years of mismanagement and a ballooning claims backlog.

The Department of Transport has announced it is reviewing the RAF’s funding model, with one option being a new fee linked to vehicle registrations and annual licence disc renewals. The stated rationale is that the growing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) — which do not consume fuel — means EV owners currently contribute nothing to the RAF levy.

However, this proposal has been met with significant public backlash. Critics argue that:

• EV adoption in South Africa is still too low to meaningfully impact RAF revenue
• The RAF’s financial problems stem from corruption and mismanagement, not insufficient funding
• Motorists should not be asked to pay more until the fund is properly reformed

The Department of Transport has indicated that a preferred funding model is only expected after the 2026/27 financial year.

6. Signs of Recovery? Parliament’s Transport Committee Remains Cautiously Optimistic

Despite the litany of problems, the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Transport, Mr Donald Selamolela, expressed cautious optimism in February 2026, stating that the RAF is “on the road to recovery.”

“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 Hlengwa likened the reform process to “fixing an aeroplane while airborne” — a challenging but necessary undertaking.

In a further positive sign, the RAF paid R8.9 billion in claims during the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year — a 54% increase from the same period in the previous year — suggesting some improvement in claims processing capacity.

7. RABS Bill: A Long-Term Alternative to the RAF?

In the background of all these developments, the proposed Road Accident Benefit Scheme (RABS) Bill continues to gain traction as a long-term alternative to the current RAF model. The RABS Bill proposes replacing the RAF’s fault-based compensation system with a no-fault social insurance model built around structured and standardised benefits.

Proponents argue that RABS would be more equitable, reduce litigation costs, and provide faster compensation to victims. However, critics — particularly in the legal profession — have raised concerns about the adequacy of benefits and the transition process.

What Does This Mean for South African Road Accident Victims?

For the millions of South Africans who rely on the RAF for compensation after road accidents, the current situation remains deeply concerning. Key takeaways include:

• If you have a pending RAF claim, be aware that processing delays are widespread. Ensure all your documentation is in order to avoid being caught in the compliance or verification backlog.
• If you are a foreign national involved in a road accident in South Africa, the legal landscape around your eligibility for RAF compensation is currently being contested in the courts.
• Motorists should brace for potential new costs as the government explores additional funding mechanisms for the RAF.
• Reform is coming, but the pace remains frustratingly slow for the thousands of victims waiting for compensation.

Conclusion: The RAF at a Crossroads

The Road Accident Fund stands at a critical juncture in 2026. With over R21 billion in unpaid claims, a R500 billion long-term liability, ongoing governance failures, and a funding model under review, the pressure on government to deliver meaningful reform has never been greater.

The SCOPA inquiry has laid bare the full extent of the RAF’s dysfunction, and all eyes are now on Transport Minister Barbara Creecy and the Portfolio Committee on Transport to translate parliamentary findings into concrete action. For the 55 South Africans who die on the country’s roads every single day — and the many more who are injured — the stakes could not be higher.

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