By Lwazi Raul
The highest rate of claims within the Road Accident Fund has alarmed the organisation in which a number of regulations had to be implemented. Increase of high claims of pedestrians knocked down by cars while under the influence of alcohol will come to an end. Drivers who also died and got injured while on roads under the influence of alcohol will also not get a penny from RAF. The newly appointed CEO of RAF Collins Letsoalo has made it clear that drunk drivers and pedestrians will soon be in trouble as they will not get a cent after any accident, how ever he has promised that they will take this information to people. Speaking in Mbombela at a stakeholder round table discussion Letsoalo said it is about time when the organisation does well. “We are tired of harassment so that we get day in and day out of unpaid claims of people who come to us to claim for their relatives who died on the road under the influence of alcohol. This is simple and always said that people should not drink, walk on the roads, drink and drives but that seems to fall on deaf ears. If found that you were the one at fault and say you were found with alcohol, we will not pay at all,” he said.
The CEO has further acknowledged his staff for the work they do daily,how ever he said he will be cleaning up the Nelspruit branch where complaints have been raised. “ I have heard of complaints about the Mbombela branch and I will make sure that we clean that place, people are there to work not there for something else. I have noted and heard that our branch has a Girl Syndrome someone there who thinks is above everyone, it doesn’t work like that. People who show no competence should not be part of the RAF. How do you sleep at night knowing you have a number of claims which need processing. This will not happen under my watch. Mpumalanga has a serious problem and we will correct this comes end of May all this problems we will have sorted out , they need to know there is a new sheriff in town, “he conclude.
