The Road Accident Fund (RAF) is standing firm against allegations of misconduct surrounding claims made by Gert Nel, a lawyer from the prominent Gert Nel Inc. law firm.
During a press briefing on Thursday in Pretoria, RAF CEO Collins Letsoalo unveiled startling figures, asserting that the firm has benefited irregularly, amassing over R2.2 billion from the fund in the past five years alone.
This revelation raises serious questions about the integrity of medico-legal claims in South Africa.
In a heated exchange that highlights the ongoing tensions between the RAF and the legal community, spokesperson McIntosh Polela asserted during an interview on national television that Nel would not receive any apology from the fund or its CEO.
“He is not going to get an apology, number one. He is asking for an apology but he is not going to get it because he uses the media to go on a tangent,” Polela stated, hinting at a broader agenda to reform how the RAF operates.
As part of its efforts towards a major overhaul, the RAF is advocating for the passage of the proposed RAF Bill of 2023.
According to Polela, the new legislation aims to curtail the alleged abuse of the fund by legal practitioners, suggesting that the current system disproportionately favours lawyers at the expense of accident victims.
“What we are doing is talking to Members of Parliament who are decision-makers, telling them that these are the people who have an interest in an untransformed Road Accident Fund,” he stated, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
The proposed bill includes provisions to limit the role of legal representatives in the claims process and to prevent payments to foreign nationals regardless of their legal status.
These sweeping changes aim to ensure that the fund can serve its primary purpose—compensating those injured in road accidents—without being bogged down by what the RAF describes as undue legal influence.
In response to the accusations put forth by Letsoalo, Gert Nel has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, labelling the claims as unfounded.
In an interview, he expressed disbelief at the public assertion of misconduct made by the RAF leadership. “It was disingenuous of Mr Letsoalo to have gone on a public platform, as everything has happened over 23 years, having acted on behalf of thousands of victims,” Nel commented.
He added that the firm continues to operate without complaints, indicating a commitment to ethical practices in accordance with the Contingency Fees Act.
The Star
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