The alleged R29 million divided, amounts to an average of R1.82 million per employee, during a period where no work was allegedly being performed.
Picture: iStock
MP Alan Beesley from Action SA has alleged that the Road Accident Fund (RAF) has paid R29 million to 16 suspended employees.
Beesley labelled it “another shocking failure of governance”, as some have been on suspension since 2024.
Paying millions for nothing
The R29 million divided among them amounts to an average of R1.82 million per employee, during a period when no work was being performed.
“This is an insult to every South African who pays into the RAF through the RAF levy on every litre of fuel and to the 37 000 accident victims who have finalised claims that are waiting for their payouts,” Beesley stated.
He said a written parliamentary reply has revealed that three of the employees had been on suspension for more than a year.
“The RAF has therefore been paying millions of rand in salaries while disciplinary matters drag on and taxpayers foot the bill,” Beesley emphasised.
RAF respond
The RAF told The Citizen that the suspensions were implemented to give the Road Accident Fund (RAF) the opportunity to conduct the necessary investigations without interference.
“These actions were undertaken in accordance with the RAF’s Human Capital policies and applicable South African labour legislation,” the fund said.
The investigations and related disciplinary processes are currently at various stages and will
continue in line with prescribed procedures until they are concluded, it added.
‘RAF is supposed to provide relief’
Beesley emphasised that the RAF is supposed to provide relief to South Africans injured on our roads, not become a taxpayer-funded retirement home for suspended officials.
“This is precisely the culture of dysfunction, waste and impunity that ActionSA has repeatedly exposed at the Road Accident Fund, and the installation of a new board has seemed not to remedy the situation,” Beesley noted.
“South Africans deserve a RAF that pays legitimate claims, protects public money and holds employees accountable.”
