Proposed Road Accident Benefit Scheme Bill roundly condemned

THE Department of Transport’s move to revive the long-rejected Road Accident Benefit Scheme (RABS) Bill has sparked concerns, following Minister Barbara Creecy’s announcement that she has dissolved the Road Accident Fund (RAF) Board due to ongoing governance and operational failures.

- ANITA NKONKI

Creecy, who recently took over the transport portfolio, said the dissolution was necessary to stabilise the RAF and restore its ability to fulfil its mandate.

She also confirmed the department's intention to finalise the Road Accident Benefits Scheme (RABS) Bill, a move that various organisations say is both undemocratic and dangerous.

The department explained that the RABS Bill seeks to replace the current fault-based compensation model with a no-fault system, removing the need for costly legal processes.

Civil society organisations, legal experts, and advocacy groups, many of whom have fought against the bill for years, have condemned its reintroduction.