Apology to Claimants and Suppliers - Non-Payment by Financial Year Ending 31 March 2025

The Road Accident Fund (RAF) would like to sincerely apologise to claimants and suppliers whose claims and/or invoices were not paid before year ending 31 March 2025, as agreed or as expected.

The unfortunate events are because of the dispute with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) which has withheld, unlawfully, about R2 billion from RAF fuel levy collections, notwithstanding an interim court order interdicting SARS from withholding any portion of R5.1 billion purportedly paid to Eskom as refund for diesel rebate.

Not only did SARS withhold the money, they caused a reduced figure of R3,4 million to be paid late only on the 28 March, instead of the usual date (before the 18th of each month).

It is regrettable and astonishing that SARS has withheld this amount of R2 billion due to RAF from the National Revenue Fund in two tranches undermining an existing legal challenge, an interim order of 14 March 2025 and the delivery of a judgment by Honourable Judge Tolmay in the Gauteng Division of the High Court on 26 March 2025. This is confirmed in Paragraph 7 of the above-mentioned Judgement where Honourable Judge Tolmay had observed the following: “It also transpired that despite the declaration of the dispute, the ongoing dispute resolution process in terms of the IRF Act, SARS has recouped/deducted the first tranche of approximately R1.2 billion (one point two billion rand). The RAF became aware of this on 26 February 2025. To add insult to injury, I was informed by counsel representing SARS that the certificate to Treasury regarding the second tranche will be issued on the same day that I was hearing the matter. This led to me granting an interim order pending the judgment which I undertook to deliver on or before 28 March 2025. The attitude of SARS, which I find rather difficult to comprehend, created even more reason to hear this matter on an urgent basis.” [Own Emphasis]

The RAF will continue to call and demand for what is fair and just. In this regard, the RAF has embarked on processes to ensure that the court order is complied with and enforced. Once these amounts are paid over to the RAF, the RAF will then be in a position to honour its commitments and obligations.

The RAF apologises for any inconvenience caused by the above unforeseen developments that are clearly outside its control. The RAF will update stakeholders of any developments regarding this matter due course.