Question NW3502 to the Minister of Transport
13 November 2023 - NW3502
Sithole, Mr KP to ask the Minister of Transport
Whether her department has records of the total (a) number of and (b) amount paid out to foreign nationals through compensation from the Road Accident Fund in each province (i) in the past three financial years and (ii) since 1 April 2023 up to the latest specified date for which information is available; if not, why not; if so, what (aa) total number of (aaa) documented and (bbb) undocumented foreign nationals have been compensated and (bb) are the further relevant details?
Reply:
a) The table below shows the number of foreigner related payments processed for the period by regional office.
b) The table below shows the value / amount of capital paid to foreigner related claims for the period by regional office.
c) The RAF is unable to indicate the status of documented and undocumented claimants that have been paid in the last three years as requested, as no such an indicator exists in the claims system.
However, the RAF has in line with Section 17(l) has to ensure that the accident happened “… at any place within the Republic”. The RAF has issued a directive to ensure that every foreigner submits a stamped passport indicating that they were in the Republic when the accident occurred.
Furthermore, Section 44 of the Immigration Act compels RAF as an organ of state to “ascertain the status or citizenship of the persons receiving its services and shall report to the Director-General any alleged foreigner or any person whose status or citizenship could not be ascertained”.
d) The RAF has, however, implemented controls to confirm foreign claimants’ mortality status prior to payment release. This process requires verification of passports, or asylum confirmation documents to ensure that only documented foreign claimants are compensated.