Johannesburg – The National Union of Metalworkers of SA claims
at least 1 500 workers at the Road Accident Fund are on strike.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the union says this is
because the beleaguered entity is “in turmoil”.
Earlier this year, the RAF announced it was unable to
make any payouts to its claimants, service providers, stakeholders and
caregivers when the sheriff of the court attached its bank accounts after
several legal firms sued the fund for R11 million.
This issue was shortly resolved, and payments started
happening again.
Late last year, the agency said internal and external
investigations against lawyers, staff and claimants had saved it billions of
rand in bogus claims.
On Thursday, Numsa claimed the RAF, which is funded
through a fuel levy, is in debt to the tune of R8.2 billion.
“To make matters worse, for months is has been unable to
fulfil its mandate and compensate accident victims,” the union claims.
In February, just after Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan presented
his Budget speech, the fund said the increase in the fuel levy was a “welcome
albeit temporary relief to the organisation”.
Read also: RAF resumes payments to its claimants
CEO Eugene Watson said the higher amount – an extra 9c a
litre – would make it possible for it continue delivering on its public
mandate.
The additional amount equates to an extra R1.9 billion
for the RAF, taking the total RAF annual fuel Levy to R34.9 billion.
Watson added: “Meanwhile, the RAF will continue managing
its financial challenges in a constructive manner by engaging stakeholders,
suppliers and claimants on how the additional funds will be further distributed
fairly and equitably, while appealing for their support and cooperation.”
However, it now appears that Numsa has a wage dispute
with the fund.
“The RAF management is blocking NUMSA’s attempt to fight
for a living wage. The lowest paid worker is forced to survive on R5 000 after
deductions, whilst executives like Watson earn over R5 million per annum,” it
alleges.
As such, workers will take to the streets to air their
grievances and hand over a memorandum to the Department of Transport on Friday.
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