Road Accident Fund Faces Billions in Unpaid Claims
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy recently told Parliament that the Road Accident Fund (RAF) still has more than R21 billion waiting to be paid out to claimants. The figure comes from a special list the fund keeps called the Requested Not Yet Paid (RNYP) Claims Register.
What the Minister Said
Creecy explained that the RNYP register records every claim that has been approved for payment but has not yet been settled. As of 28 June 2026, the register showed:
- 37 622 claims
- Total value = R21.76 billion
- Spread across 47 949 payment transactions
RNYP Claims Register
The register is the RAF’s way of tracking money that is owed but stuck in the system. It helps the fund see exactly how much is pending and why.
Why Payments Are Delayed
The minister pointed out several reasons for the holdup:
- Outstanding compliance checks – affect claims worth almost R11 billion.
- Verification delays – impact more than R9.1 billion.
- Missing documents – hold up around R1.7 billion.
- Payments not yet due and ongoing processes also play a role.
Age of the Claims
Many of these unpaid claims are old. About 36 442 of them date from between 2007 and 2026, meaning some people have been waiting years for their money.
Looking for a New Funding Model
Because the RAF mainly relies on a fuel levy, the government is exploring other ways to keep it funded. Creecy said the Department of Transport, together with the RAF, is reviewing the fund’s financing structure. One idea under discussion is a separate, mandatory fee added when vehicle licences are renewed or first issued.
The review is guided by a formal business case, and the results will be shared publicly once completed.
Conclusion
The RAF’s backlog of over R21 billion in unpaid claims highlights serious delays caused by paperwork, verification, and compliance issues. While many claims are years old, officials are working on a clearer picture of what’s owed and why. At the same time, they are examining fresh funding options—such as a vehicle‑licence fee—to make sure the fund can meet its obligations in the future. For now, the focus is on clearing the RNYP register and getting the money to those who need it.
