Month: May 2024

The Road Accident Fund (RAF) has called on claimants to submit outstanding documents to finalise their claims and reduce the backlog of 321 000 claims.

Addressing a media briefing on Thursday, RAF Chief Executive Officer Collins Letsoalo said the fund is committed to efficiently settling claims in 120 days.

‘Supporting documents play a crucial role in finalising a claim efficiently and speedily. They inform the Fund about what is being claimed, set out the basis of the claim, allow the Fund to investigate, and facilitate an assessment on the merits of the motor vehicle accident,’ Letsoalo said in Centurion.

The fund has launched the ‘Drive Your Claim Forward’ campaign aimed at encouraging claimants to submit outstanding documents and all the necessary information required to investigate as well as pay claims.

‘Through the campaign, the RAF anticipates processing and finalising more claims, thus significantly reducing the waiting period claimants have to endure. Claimants and their representatives who subm
itted their claims before April 2021 are encouraged to deliver all outstanding documents in order for the fund to finalise their claims,’ he said.

The main reason for delays in the claims process is outstanding documents, such as comprehensive medical assessments for serious injuries.

‘Through the campaign, the RAF seeks to ensure that it is doing everything to minimise delays and assist all claimants. Enquiries about which documents to submit can be made at any of the RAF’s offices or via email,’ he explained.

In July 2022, the RAF introduced a new form to improve service delivery and better manage the claim risk.

‘The form was introduced to make it easier for legal practitioners to lodge claims on behalf of claimants, and more importantly, to assist with settling claims faster. The fund’s open claim backlog would not be on this scale if road accident victims and attorneys representing them submitted all the required information and documents upfront,’ the CEO said.

Claimants can submit their outstandin
g documents via email on [email protected] or drop the documents off at any of the Fund’s regional offices in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, East London, and Cape Town.

The documents can also be dropped off at the fund’s customer service centres in Bloemfontein, Polokwane, Kimberley, Mahikeng and Durban. More details about these offices is available on the fund’s website.

To determine which documents are outstanding, claimants should visit www.raf.co.za, click on the ‘Drive Your Claim Forward’ banner on the home page and get the information about which documents they need for their specific claim.

They may also contact the RAF’s Contact Centre on 087 820 1 111, via SMS on 44930, or by email on [email protected].

Claimants who request a call back will be contacted by one of the Contact Centre agents.

In the unfortunate event of being involved in a motor vehicle accident, the RAF Contact Centre is reachable on 087 820 1 111, from Monday to Friday, 07:45 to 4pm.

The RAF can also be reached thr
ough its offices countrywide, details of which are available on its website on www.raf.co.za.

Source: South African Government News Agency

WINDHOEK: President Nangolo Mbumba conveyed a message of condolences to President William Ruto of the Republic of Kenya, following the loss of lives caused by mass flooding this week.

The floods in Nairobi, the nation’s capital, and elsewhere in the country, have displaced over 165 000 people and wrecked homes, washed away bridges, and injured dozens of people.

Mbumba in his message shared by the Presidency on Thursday said: ‘I am confident that the people of Kenya will rise from this ordeal, which has not only led to the loss of lives and left several injured, but also caused the destruction of infrastructure.’

The Namibian Head of State said he was confident that the people of Kenya would rise from this ordeal.

Mbumba said Namibia stands in solidarity with Kenya, noting: ‘We are keeping the fraternal people of Kenya in our prayers during this difficult period.’

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) says it is confident that all systems are in place for the shipment of voting materials to enable South African citizens living abroad to cast their ballots.

The department and the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) have met and agreed on the logistics for the dispatching of election materials.

Voting materials will be sent to all 115 South African diplomatic missions using diplomatic airfreight bags.

‘A short-term contract for this purpose is in place. The diplomatic bag is protected by diplomatic immunity. DIRCO makes use of diplomatic bags to dispatch official documents and articles to and from South Africa per the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963,’ the department explained.

According to the IEC, by law, citizens can only vote abroad on the date specified in the election timetable, which is typically 10 days before voting day in the country.

Source: South
African Government News Agency

As South Africa joins the rest of the world in celebrating International Workers’ Day, government has paid tribute to all workers, especially frontline workers who continue to provide essential services on this public holiday.

Celebrated annually on 1 May, International Workers’ Day or May Day, pays tribute to the historical struggle of workers and their trade unions for solidarity and fair employment standards.

This year’s International Workers’ Day is commemorated under the theme: ’30 Years of Freedom’.

This year also marks the 133-year anniversary of May Day, a testament to the enduring legacy of the labour movement.

In South Africa, the journey began with the formation of the Congress of South African Trade Union (COSATU) in December 1985. The union’s demand for May Day to be recognised as a public holiday and renamed Workers’ Day was heeded by approximately 1.5 million workers.

The workers were joined by thousands of learners, students, taxi drivers, hawkers, shopkeepers, domestic workers, and self
-employed and unemployed people.

Despite being banned in advance by the apartheid government, rallies were held across the country with the majority held in the Pretoria-Witwatersrand-Vereeniging area, now known as Gauteng.

Workers’ Day has been officially acknowledged and commemorated in South Africa since the inaugural democratic government in 1994.

The Department of Employment and Labour said the day serves dual purposes – a celebration of workers’ rights and a poignant reminder of the pivotal role that trade unions, the Communist Party and other labour organisations played in the struggle against apartheid.

‘Workers’ Day in South Africa carries its unique cultural significance. The public holiday has come to symbolise not only the sacrifices made in an arduous journey towards fair employment standards but also the fierce battle against apartheid, where trade and labour played a crucial role,’ the department said in a statement on Wednesday.

Given that South Africa’s working classes were the most oppr
essed under apartheid, the department said the fight for improved working conditions and the battle to dismantle systematic segregation became inextricably linked.

‘Prior to the 1994 elections, labour and trade groups frequently used Workers’ Day as a rallying symbol against segregation and oppression of the apartheid regime, organising demonstrations and fostering widespread resistance. This day serves as a testament to their resilience and determination,’ the department said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

In a groundbreaking initiative aimed at addressing food insecurity and uplifting township communities, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube has launched a programme aimed at equipping residents with the knowledge and resources necessary to cultivate healthy and nutritious crops in their neighbourhoods.

The Township Agriculture Programme aims to maximise food production in small spaces, promote a healthy ecosystem and increase biodiversity in urban areas.

Speaking at the event held at KwaMashu in the north of Durban on Tuesday, Dube-Ncube highlighted the programme’s dual purpose of combating hunger and fostering economic growth within township settings.

‘With an innovative approach, the Township Agriculture Programme seeks to harness the untapped potential of urban spaces, promoting sustainable agricultural practices to maximise food production.

‘Beyond merely providing sustenance, the initiative aims to cultivate a sense of community pride and self-sufficiency, empowering residents to take control of
their food sources and contribute to the local economy,’ Dube-Ncube said.

The Premier said township agriculture is a catalyst for social and economic empowerment, with a particular emphasis on supporting marginalised groups.

The program also aims to provide opportunities for women, youth, individuals with disabilities, and child-headed households to actively participate in agricultural activities, thereby promoting inclusivity and resilience within township communities.

To facilitate the implementation of township agricultural projects, government has allocated R6 million in funding, signalling its dedication to supporting grassroots initiatives.

‘Plans are already underway to expand the Township Agriculture Programme to encompass major townships across KwaZulu-Natal, ensuring widespread access to resources and opportunities for all residents,’ Dube-Ncube said.

Rabies Awareness Campaign

During the launch, Dube-Ncube also led a Rabies Awareness Campaign, which saw the vaccination of pets against rabies.

T
he campaign emphasises responsible pet ownership to prevent unnecessary human deaths.

Since January 2023, the province has recorded 233 cases of rabies and seven human deaths.

‘In total 17 people have died of rabies with the majority of the deaths occurring in eThekwini,’ Dube-Ncube said.

The Premier urged community members to bring their pets for vaccination and inspection, emphasising the critical role of responsible pet ownership in safeguarding public health.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Small Business Development Minister, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, has described the late Dr Sam Motsuenyane as a doyen of black business and a torchbearer of black economic empowerment.

‘He represents a generation of black entrepreneurs who, despite formidable odds, managed to take their destinies into their own hands and built business empires whose successes defied the apartheid logic,’ Ndabeni-Abrahams said.

The Minister said Dr Motsuenyane contributed enormously to the downfall of apartheid and was one of the architects of South Africa’s new democracy.

Dr Motsuenyane died at the age of 97 on Monday.

As a co-founder of the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NAFCOC), he will be remembered as a tireless advocate and defender of the interests of black business in the country, especially during the dark days of apartheid.

‘As we proudly celebrate his legacy and the mark he made in pursuit of black economic emancipation, we are also reminded of his pioneering roles, including the est
ablishment of the African Bank. It shall be recalled that the apartheid regime denied the black majority the right to trade and conduct businesses of their choice.

‘With the laws of the land and economic policies heavily stacked against them and with policies intended to squeeze them out of economic activity, Dr Motsuenyane and his peers rose and emerged to become business icons of our nation. We salute them for carving their own path despite heavy odds stacked against them,’ the Minister said.

Ndabeni-Abrahams noted that Dr Motsuenyane’s exemplary life is that of an ordinary son of the soil who, during his lifetime, demonstrated extraordinary courage and gave his nation hope.

‘His towering, yet gentle presence in our midst, always gave us the assurance that we stand on the shoulders of giants [and] as the Ministry of Small Business Development, we are inspired by Dr Motsuenyane’s legacy.

‘The best tribute we can pay in honour of his memory and legacy is to devote our collective efforts towards building a
nd sustaining the township and village economy, and to intensify broad-based black economic empowerment.

‘In his name and memory, we will intensify our efforts to empower small businesses and promote entrepreneurship,’ Ndabeni-Abrahams said.

Source: South African Government News Agency