RAF pays out R3.3bn claims

OUTSTANDING: PAYMENTS FOLLOWED MEETINGS WITH LEGAL AND SERVICE PROVIDER STAKEHOLDERS

- Roy Cokayne

The Road Accident Fund (RAF) has paid R3.3 billion in the past two weeks to claimants of the estimated more than R20 billion in claims outstanding for more than 180 days.

This was announced by the new interim board of the RAF on Wednesday, which described the initial payments as "the first step towards restoring the dignity of the Road Accident Fund".

It said the payments were made following a series of meetings with various stakeholders, including members of the legal fraternity and service providers.

The RAF interim board said it will honour all outstanding payments and "is pleased to report on further steps taken to speed up the payment of all outstanding claims".

"In considering this programme of action, the board also wanted to ensure that a sustainable claims management system is put in place that should eliminate the existence of any claims backlogs in future.

"This initiative forms part of the broader turnaround programme aimed at tackling systemic delays and restoring confidence in the fund's claims environment," it said.