R548 million paid to foreign claimants by South African taxpayers

SOUTH African taxpayers have collectively forked out a staggering R548 million to foreign nationals who lodged claims with the Road Accident Fund (RAF) during the 2024/25 financial year.

- MAYIBONGWE MAQHINA

This was revealed by Acting Transport Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa when he was responding to parliamentary questions posed by ActionSA MP Alan Beesley.

"A total of R42.94 billion was paid across 128 716 claims during the 2024/25 financial year. R548 million was paid in respect of claims where the claimant or injured is a foreigner," Ramokgopa said.

He revealed that a total of 222 personal claims were registered where the claimant or injured is a foreigner. As of September 13, 2025, only 17 out of the 222 foreign claims had been successfully settled.

On the pending claims, Ramokgopa said 78 had been repudiated, objected to, or flagged as duplicates, while 12 claims have an offer in progress and 115 claims are open and in progress.

Beesley said it was concerning that taxpayers' money from the fuel levy covered medical expenses of foreigners.

"The question is why all of that is happening in our country?" he asked.