Key points
- SCOPA launches full inquiry into RAF, citing grave governance failures.
- APRAV views this as a breakthrough after over a decade of advocacy.
- Public submissions are now open as Parliament moves to restore institutional integrity.
The Association for the Protection of Road Accident Victims (APRAV) has welcomed, with deep relief, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts’ (SCOPA) decision to initiate a full Parliamentary Inquiry into the Road Accident Fund (RAF).
SCOPA’s move follows years of mounting concern over mismanagement, opaque governance, and alleged misconduct within the Fund, issues again laid bare during a heated committee session in Cape Town on 24 June 2025.
APRAV, which has lobbied for over a decade through evidence submissions, expert commentary, and testimonies from victims and legal professionals, described the decision as a moment of long-awaited recognition.
“This is a massive victory, not just for APRAV, but for every victim who has suffered silently under a broken and unaccountable RAF system,” said Pieter de Bruyn, speaking on behalf of the organisation. “It is a long-overdue reckoning with a system that has failed too many for too long.”
Systemic failure exposed
SCOPA said it had made repeated attempts to obtain complete and truthful information from the RAF Board and executive management to no avail. The committee underscored that its oversight work cannot be effective without transparency and full disclosure from state entities.
Among the committee’s key concerns are:
- Inadequate background checks on senior management, despite individuals being entrusted with vast sums of public money and possessing troubling employment histories involving reckless financial decision-making.
- RAF’s refusal to disclose where certain public funds are held or for what purpose.
- Failure to appoint key executives, including heads of Claims, Legal, Corporate Support, and People Management, while critical decisions continue to be taken without proper oversight.
- Apparent breaches of governance affecting Parliament’s authority and that of Chapter 9 institutions charged with oversight.
- Whistleblower reports detailing supply chain irregularities involving more than R1 billion, compounded by the collapse of internal management controls.
SCOPA said these issues point to a breakdown in both managerial ethics and board-level accountability.
Legal irregularities and lack of oversight
Further red flags include RAF’s continued enforcement of Board Notice 271 of 2020, despite it being declared unlawful by the courts. An active Special Investigating Unit (SIU) probe, suspected misuse of auditing standards, and persistent questions about the appointment and suspension of the Fund’s CEO underscore the depth of dysfunction.
SCOPA Chairperson Songezo Zibi said the volume of complaints and documentary disclosures warranted a comprehensive inquiry that would allow implicated individuals to testify under oath and receive a fair hearing before the committee makes recommendations.
The terms of reference will be finalised on 1 July 2025. The inquiry is expected to proceed after Parliament’s August recess.
Justice beyond reform
The RAF was established to provide medical, financial, and rehabilitative support to road accident victims. Yet as the fund’s internal systems have faltered, countless victims have been left without assistance, while public hospitals have struggled to meet needs the Fund was meant to fulfil.
“This is not just a legal matter,” De Bruyn said. “It is about restoring trust in institutions, protecting public resources, and ensuring that vulnerable South Africans are not abandoned when they most need help.”
Public call to action
APRAV has urged victims, legal professionals, former RAF staff, and whistleblowers to come forward. Submissions may be made confidentially to victims@aprav.co.za. “Let this be the beginning of a new chapter for the RAF—one rooted in truth, accountability, and the collective will to do better,” De Bruyn said.
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