Parly inquiry questions contradictory evidence about RAF claims without using lawyer

A parliamentary inquiry into malfeasance at the Road Accident Fund (RAF) has questioned contradictory evidence about direct claims without the use of a lawyer.

Last week, RAF officials said they were encouraging claimants whose cases are unresolved to come forward to be helped directly and to clear the backlog.

But the RAF’s communications head, McIntosh Polela has on Wednesday told the inquiry he was expressly told that claimants should not be encouraged to lodge a claim without a lawyer.

Polela is one of two communication and marketing officials who have been appearing before Parliament’s standing committee on public accounts (SCOPA).

Members of Parliament (MPs) have probed two major media contracts worth R1 billion, which include the procurement of clothing items as part of various campaigns.

Despite the turmoil at the fund, Polela said he does not believe media campaigns and messages about the fund and road safety can be considered falseadvertising.

“Our advertising is not based on our values. We are basing our work on empowering people how to reach us, how to claim.”

The committee’s chairperson, Songezo Zibi, however, queried evidence encouraging direct claims given to the committee last week - but Polela said this was not part of the fund’s public messaging.

“Ever since I came, it was made abundantly clear to me that legislation as we sit here and now does not allow that. As I understand it, it was a pilot.”

Polela revealed that only 3% of claims come directly from individuals - a figure that RAF officials, who appeared before the committee last week, were vague about.