A senior member of South Africa’s (SA) Parliament has called for sweeping changes to the legislation governing the Road Accident Fund (RAF), as lawmakers probe years of alleged corruption and financial mismanagement within the institution.
Veronica Mente, who serves on the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, made the remarks during an ongoing parliamentary inquiry into the RAF’s affairs. The inquiry was launched following numerous reports over the years of maladministration, irregular expenditure, and the misuse of public money.
Mente said former RAF Chief Executive Officer, Collins Letsoalo, had made efforts during his tenure to reform the fund and ensure that genuine claimants received compensation swiftly. However, she noted that deep-rooted corruption networks continued to derail those reforms.
“There are so many glaring issues coming out of the inquiry, a syndicate of big companies determined to drain the RAF’s resources. Thirteen major firms, including law practices, medical aid providers, healthcare professionals and hospitals, are implicated. The existing law enables this environment. There is a need for a complete transformation,” Mente said.
The RAF, which is responsible for compensating victims of road accidents in SA, has for years faced public criticism over its financial instability and lengthy delays in processing claims. Parliament’s investigation is expected to shed light on the depth of the mismanagement and recommend urgent reforms to restore accountability and ensure that public funds serve their intended purpose.
–ChannelAfrica–
