Man arrested for R600 000 fraudulent RAF claim in East London

Katlego Sekhu

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The arrest forms part of the Hawks’ broader crackdown on fraudulent claims targeting the Road Accident Fund.
The case demonstrates the strong collaboration between the Hawks and RAF investigators in uncovering and prosecuting fraud.
Authorities say these arrests send a clear message that attempts to exploit public compensation systems will not go unpunished.

The Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation (SCCI) unit has arrested 33-year-old Siyabulela Pati for allegedly submitting a fraudulent Road Accident Fund (RAF) claim, potentially defrauding the fund of R600 000.

Pati was apprehended on 6 November 2025 and appeared in the East London Magistrate’s Court on the same day, where he was released on warning. The case has been remanded to 2 December 2025 for further proceedings.

The arrest follows an investigation into a claim submitted on 16 July 2021. Pati alleged that he had been a passenger in a vehicle involved in a collision on Qumza Highway in Mdantsane, claiming to have suffered a fractured sixth rib and multiple soft tissue injuries.

A detailed investigation by RAF, in collaboration with the Hawks, revealed that Pati had misrepresented the circumstances of the accident. Records showed that he was the driver of the second vehicle involved. As a driver, he was only entitled to limited compensation under the principle of contributory negligence, not the full passenger claim he had submitted.

The alleged misrepresentation exposed the RAF to a potential loss of around R600 000. The matter was subsequently referred to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), which led to Pati’s arrest.