IN 2021, Sipho Mdluli’s life was irrevocably altered when a drunk driver smashed into his taxi, leaving him with a shattered leg and no means of supporting his family.
Now, three years later, he still waits for the Road Accident Fund (RAF) to settle his multimillion-rand claim – a situation that has left him borrowing from relatives just to survive.
Mdluli’s plight is not isolated; it echoes the stories of countless others caught in a system meant to protect them.
The Road Accident Fund, financed through a fuel levy of R2.18 per litre, was designed as a safety net for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.
However, the levy has remained stagnant since 2019, while claims and administrative costs skyrocketed.
Today, the fund’s liabilities stand at an astonishing R518 billion against assets…
