The Road Accident Fund substantially increased the amount it paid out during the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year, but the higher payment rate has yet to translate into a smaller payment queue.
The Fund paid R8.9 billion on 80 665 claims between 1 April and 30 June 2026 – 54% more than the R5.8bn paid in the same quarter of the previous financial year.
But the amount of requested claim payments that were still outstanding increased from R18.56bn at the start of the quarter to R22.18bn on 30 June.
During the quarter, R12.57bn in new claims entered the requested-not-yet-paid (RNYP) pipeline, while R8.95bn was paid out.
The result was a R3.62bn increase in the RNYP balance, despite the RAF substantially increasing its payments.
The figures, presented to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Transport on 11 August by acting chief executive Radikwena Phora, provide a snapshot of a Fund paying claims at a much faster rate while still carrying a large unresolved payment book.
The open claims book
The RAF had 301 203 open claims by 30 June. Of these, 253 837 (84%) were personal claims and 47 366 were supplier claims. The overwhelming majority – 263 801 claims, or 88% of the total – were on the Legacy system, compared with 37 402 on the newer Bokamoso system.
Bokamoso is the RAF’s integrated claims management system, while Legacy refers to the Fund’s older claims administration system.
During the quarter, 31 269 claims were registered, while 17 428 were finalised and closed.
The registration figure should not be read as a simple addition to the open book, because claims can move through different stages of the RAF’s claims process during the same period. But the figures illustrate the volume moving through the system.
Where the R8.9bn went
The largest component of the quarter’s payments was loss of earnings, at R4.831bn.
A further R2.018bn was recorded under “plaintiff legal and costs”, while R1.358bn was paid in general damages.
The remaining payments comprised:
- R291m for loss of support;
- R276m for past medical expenses;
- R160m for future medical expenses;
- R51m for RAF legal and costs; and
- R4m for funeral costs.
The R8.9bn covered 80 665 claims, giving an average payment of about R283 595 per claim.
The number of claims paid also varied considerably by month: 28 388 in April, 17 076 in May, and 35 201 in June.
Phora said the Fund can receive as little as R4bn a month, while its payment queue can exceed R20bn.
Payments through plaintiff attorneys
The RAF recorded R2.018bn in “plaintiff legal and costs” during the quarter.
The largest amount went to De Broglio Attorneys (R225.94m), followed by Gert Nel (R167.81m), Frans Schutte Mathews Prosa White (R164.98m), Podbielski Mhlambi (R146.21m), Komane Attorney (R133.91m), Van Niekerk Attorneys (R122.84m), JS Terblanche (R115.80m), Andendorff (R96.44m), Adams & Adams (Pta) (R88.37m), and Mphela & Associates Attorneys (R83.39m).
Phora explained that these are plaintiff attorneys representing RAF claimants, with the payments relating to claims handled through the firms, including matters that proceed to litigation.
Deputy Transport Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa said the RAF should follow up with claimants after paying their attorneys to confirm they had received their payouts. He described this as “a missing link in the ecosystem” and said there were cases where lawyers pushed for more money while claimants were unaware that the RAF had already made an offer.
That concern forms part of a broader “boots on the ground” approach the RAF is now rolling out, aimed at putting its employees directly in communities to help resolve claims-related problems and engage with claimants.
The approach includes checking the status of claims, helping claimants to address outstanding documentation, and establishing whether they are aware of offers or other developments on their claims.
The RAF’s next community outreach is in Kokstad on 14 August, where residents will be able to register claims, submit outstanding documents, check claim status, and report alleged unscrupulous attorneys and touts.
