No more freeloading from the RAF, it's not a lottery, warns the Deputy Transport Minister Hlengwa

OPPORTUNISTS looking to freeload from the Road Accident Fund with tall stories of misfortune or deliberately harm themselves to secure pay days must refrain from such activities.

That was warning sounded by Transport Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa to those who planned to perpetrate acts of fraud to benefit unfairly and drain the RAF of resources that could benefit deserving claims. 

Hlengwa made those utterances about fraudsters trying to hit the jackpot with their fictitious claims at the launch of the 8th United Nations Global Road Safety Week campaign in Durban on Sunday. 

The RAF’s Snegugu Mavundla said that the entity was beset with constant fraudulent claims, which triggered the Minister's reaction. 

Mavundla said that at times, they were unable to help members of the public because there were people who lie and cheat, or plan to throw themselves in front of moving vehicles because they know they will get millions of rands in return.

However, the RAF was now in a position to side-step such claims because there were many steps to go through before a supposed road crash victim gets their hands on money they thought they would get. 

In response, Hlengwa told those harbouring hopes of getting hurt in road incidents that, “there is no money and National Treasury says they were only collecting R2,17 from every litre of petrol or diesel at the pumps and had to give money to the RAF, besides it’s one of the things increasing the cost of living in South Africa”. 

“Go look for other ways to get money because soon we will close the R2,17 per litre tap.”

He said because of the exorbitant amounts collected from the RAF, he and Transport Minister Barbara Creecy have agreed and have written a draft bill, which they will take to Parliament, which will then reduce the amount payable to people. 

Hlengwa said the RAF is not the lotto. 

“It serves as government intervention for those who cannot help themselves. Therefore, we curse this abuse of the RAF,” Hlengwa said. 

Hlengwa also expressed concern over road safety in South Africa. 

“Let us not speed on the roads,” Hlengwa said.

“We encourage having a second driver for long distances so there is rest every 200km, every two hours because another thing the RTMC and the department realised when releasing statistics is that driver exhaustion behind the wheel has a big impact in causing crashes.”

He added: “I want to, therefore, indicate that it is of critical importance that we do the right things, have the right driver behind the steering wheel, and ensure the roadworthiness of our vehicles on the road. When you are a driver, you don’t just drive your own vehicle, you drive the entire ecosystem, you drive all vehicles around you. It forces you to be observant.”

thobeka.ngema@inl.co.za

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