RAF campaign launch in Giyani brings hope

THE Road Accident Fund (RAF) launched their RAF on the Road campaign in Giyani over the weekend as part of their efforts to make their services more accessible and to cut out the middle man when it comes to claims.

This campaign brought the RAF claims officials and advisers to Giyani so that claimants could have direct access to the fund.

Mopani District mayor, Nkankareng Rakgoale, said it was unfortunate that the poorest of the poor were often those who were most affected when it came to access to the RAF due to lack of information and finances.

“The RAF seeks to lift the financial burden of the bereaved families of accident victims,” she said, and added that the RAF would even drive the applicants to the bank to obtain the necessary documentation if need be.

“From now on applications will be treated on a first come first served basis and no applicant will access the RAF through a lawyer,” she said, to loud applause by claimants who attended the launch in order to follow up their long overdue claims.

RAF applicant, Samuel Mahumani, said he submitted his application through a lawyer. “When the money was paid, he did not tell me. Instead, he asked for my bank account number and paid in the money. I found out today that there was more money paid to me than what I received,” he said.

Another applicant, Idah Mabunda who also lodged her application through a lawyer, said she was happy that she now knew how far her claim had progressed with the RAF. “The lawyer that I used did not forward my application to the RAF,” she said, adding that she was happy now that she knew her claim was being processed.

The event ended with a handover of 100 bicycles to Mninginisi High School learners by the RAF.