Road Accident Benefit Scheme Bill: public hearings in provinces

Meeting Summary

SUMMARY

Media release: Friday, 27 July 2018 – The Portfolio Committee on Transport this week visited four provinces (North West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo) to conduct public hearings on the Road Accident Benefit Scheme (RABS) Bill. 

The Bill, which seeks to replace the Road Accident Fund (RAF) Act and to improve the administration of benefits and payouts to accident victims, received mixed reactions from the public and members of the legal fraternity. 

Committee Chairperson Ms Dikeledi Magadzi said the committee appreciates the interest shown in the bill, as well as the inputs. “In the provinces we have visited this week, people have given us inputs that we believe will assist the committee when analysing the bill. We hope that when we go to other provinces next week it will be even better.”

The Rabs Bill also seeks to provide for a social security scheme for the victims of road accidents and to establish the Road Accident Benefit Scheme Administrator to administer and implement the scheme.

During the public hearings, the committee also heard of frustrations with the RAF from road accident victims who were unhappy with the service they received from the fund.

“It looks like we need to have a meeting with RAF – the CEO and the board – and the Minister of Transport so that we can tell them of the challenges we have come across relating to their services,” the Chairperson said.

Next week, the committee will hold public hearings in Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape provinces.

Details of the Public hearings in North West and Gauteng

Date: Tuesday 24 July 2018

Venue: Madibeng White Hall: Brits, Bojanala District Municipality

Time: 10:00 – 13:00

Tuesday: 24 July 2018

Venue: Ikageng Community Hall, Mamelodi, Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality

Time: 17:00 – 20:00

Parliament, Tuesday, 24 July 2018 –  Residents of Mpumalanga province will tomorrow (Wednesday) have an opportunity to make inputs on the draft Road Accident Benefit Scheme Bill, currently before the Portfolio Committee on Transport.

After meeting with the communities of North West and Gauteng provinces today, the committee will tomorrow hold public hearings on the Bill, in Emalahleni (formerly Witbank).

The Bill is intended to replace the Road Accident Fund Act and to improve the administration of benefits and payouts to accident victims. It also seeks to provide for a social security scheme for the victims of road accidents and establish the Road Accident Benefit Scheme Administrator to administer and implement the scheme.

Committee Chairperson, Ms Dikeledi Magadzi, said: “The Bill cannot be a complete legislation without any input and participation by the public.”

Details of the public hearings in Mpumalanga:

Date: Wednesday, 25 July 2018

Venue: Emalahleni Civic Theatre, Nkangala District Municipality

Time: 11:00 – 14:00

Media release: Wednesday, 25 July 2018 – The ongoing countrywide public hearings on the Road Accident Benefit Scheme Bill will tomorrow (Thursday) be held in Limpopo, in the Greater Sekhukhune District Municipality.

The Portfolio Committee on Transport has already conducted public hearings in three provinces (North West, Gauteng and Mpumalanga) where the Bill received mixed reactions from the public and members of the legal fraternity.

The Bill is intended to replace the Road Accident Fund Act and to improve the administration of benefits and payouts to accident victims. It also seeks to provide for a social security scheme for the victims of road accidents and establish the Road Accident Benefit Scheme Administrator to administer and implement the scheme.

Details of the public hearings in Limpopo:

 Date: Thursday, 26 July 2018

Venue: Makhuduthamaga New Municipal Buildings: Jane Furse, Greater Sekhukhune District Municipality

Time: 11:00 – 14:00

Details for next week’s public hearings:

Eastern Cape

Date: Tuesday 31 July 2018

Venue: Cambridge Town Hall: East London, Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality

Time: 10:00 – 13:00

KwaZulu-Natal

Date: Wednesday 01 August 2018

Venue: Uvongo Town Hall: Port Shepstone, Ugu District Municipality

Time: 10:30 – 13:30

Western Cape

Date: Thursday 02 August 2018

Venue: Worcester Town Hall: Worcester, Winelands District Municipality

Time: 11:00 – 14:00

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORT, MS DIKELEDI MAGADZI.

For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:

Name: Sakhile Mokoena Parliamentary Communication Services Cell: 081 705 2130

E-mail: [email protected]

Report of the meeting to follow.