RAF IS CRASHING

Accident victims are bearing the brunt of Road Accident Fund's R500bn black hole

- BY JONISAYI MAROMO

IN 2021, Sipho Mdluli's life was irrevocably altered when a drunk driver smashed into his taxi, leaving him with a shattered leg and no means of supporting his family.

Now, three years later, he still waits for the Road Accident Fund (RAF) to settle his multimillion-rand claim - a situation that has left him borrowing from relatives just to survive.

Mdluli's plight is not isolated; it echoes the stories of countless others caught in a system meant to protect them.

The Road Accident Fund, financed through a fuel levy of R2.18 per litre, was designed as a safety net for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.

However, the levy has remained stagnant since 2019, while claims and administrative costs skyrocketed.