The Road Accident Fund (RAF) is under renewed scrutiny after it emerged that it owes attorney Kabelo Malao a staggering R29 million — more than double the original amount of R14.1 million — due to prolonged delays and accrued interest.
Malao, who represents 29 claimants injured in separate road accidents, said the cases were concluded and due for finalisation as far back as 2021. Despite multiple court orders and follow-ups, the RAF has failed to pay out the settlements.
“What was meant to bring closure and relief to victims has now turned into a drawn-out legal nightmare,” Malao said in a statement. “My clients are not just statistics — they are people living with injuries, trauma, and mounting medical bills.”
Originally, the RAF was ordered to pay R14.1 million across the 29 claims. However, as payments were ignored or delayed, statutory interest caused the debt to balloon to R29 million.
The RAF, already facing financial and administrative crises, has come under fire in recent years for backlogs, missed court appearances, and its controversial move to restructure how claims are handled.
Legal experts say the Malao case is just one of many reflecting systemic dysfunction. “This is a clear example of institutional failure,” said legal analyst Tessa Ntuli. “When court orders are ignored and claimants are left in limbo, trust in public institutions erodes.”
The Department of Transport has yet to respond to queries on the matter. Meanwhile, claimants — some of whom were left permanently disabled — continue to wait for the justice they were promised over four years ago.