Man (48) in court for false RAF claim
The accused allegedly claimed from the Road Accident Fund based on manipulation of facts surrounding a prior road accident in which he collided with oncoming traffic due to overtaking.
A 48-year-old man accused of Road Accident Fund (RAF) fraud appeared in Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
The hearing was adjourned and is scheduled to continue on April 8.
The Pretoria-based Serious Commercial Crime Investigations team arrested Linda Melvin Buthelezi (48) in a case involving a fraudulent claim against the RAF with a potential loss estimated at R6.1-million.
“The arrest stems from an ongoing investigation into a case that was registered at Brooklyn police station in December 2018, with the RAF as the complainant,” said Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Lloyd Ramovha.
It is alleged that the accused, through his legal representative, submitted a claim to the RAF that was later revealed to be fraudulent.
“The claim was built on the manipulation of facts surrounding a prior road accident in which the suspect unlawfully overtook another vehicle and collided with oncoming traffic.”
He said the same accident had led to Buthelezi being convicted for reckless and negligent driving by the Protea Glen Court in Soweto.
“The conviction included a fine and a three-year suspended sentence. However, despite this legal outcome, the accused proceeded to misrepresent himself in the RAF claim, presenting false information to portray himself as a victim rather than the cause of the incident.”
Ramovha said Gauteng Hawks head Major General Ebrahim Kadwa said this case highlights the commitment of law enforcement agencies to ensuring accountability and deterring fraudulent claims that place undue strain on resources meant to support genuine road accident victims.
“Fraudulent claims like these do not only undermine the integrity of public institutions but also divert funds away from those in genuine need. We commend the investigator for their diligence and dedication to justice,” said Kadwa.
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