The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has signed acknowledgements of debt with law firms and legal representatives worth some R68 million after they were overpaid by the Road Accident Fund (RAF) for their clients’ claims.
According to SIU spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago, the acknowledgements come after the corruption busting unit instituted an investigation into allegations of corruption at the RAF.
“Instead of returning the duplicate payments to RAF, legal practitioners opted to either keep the money in their Trust accounts or use it to their personal benefit. To date, the SIU has managed to recover R18 million through acknowledgement of debt process following the signing of Proclamation R44 of 2021 by President Cyril Ramaphosa authorising the SIU to investigate serious allegations of corruption and maladministration in the affairs of RAF.
“The Proclamation authorises the SIU to investigate compensation payments made by RAF to claimants or claimants’ agents, payments made by RAF in a manner that is contrary to the applicable legislations, and to recover financial losses suffered by the State or RAF,” he said.
The law firms are part of a cohort of at least 102 law firms and legal representatives currently under investigation.
“As part of Phase 1 of 4 of the investigation, the SIU is looking at 102 Law firms which received duplicate payments from RAF of approximately R340 060 277.97. When approached with the evidence, several legal practitioners have opted to co-operate with the SIU investigation in defrayal of their indebtedness by the signing of acknowledgments of indebtedness.
“The SIU signs acknowledgements of debt with individuals and companies that are subject to SIU investigations, committing to pay back undue financial benefit with interest over an agreed period.
“Furthermore, the SIU is closely working with the Legal Practice Council on the RAF investigation and other law enforcement agencies where the need arises for active collaboration to ensure effective implementation of SIU investigation outcomes and consequence management.,” Kganyago said.
Source: South African Government News Agency