The Road Accident Fund (RAF) has indicated that it will do everything in its power to assist the families and friends of six people who died in an accident on the N6 between Sterkstroom and Komani on Wednesday.
RAF Regional Manager, Yvonne Badi, said: “As is the case with accidents of such devastating proportions, we are in pain as the RAF family but will do everything in our power to ease the emotional and financial burden of the survivors and victims’ families. Our team in Eastern Cape will work alongside the police to verify the identities of the deceased in order to begin providing the necessary support.”
RAF staff will engage families of the deceased to facilitate funeral arrangements while providing advice about the RAF’s other services. Following the burials, consultations will continue with the bereaved families to originate claims for loss of support for any dependents and qualifying heads of damages for the injured as stipulated in the RAF Act.
Initial media reports indicate that a bus from the Department of Health transporting patients from Sterkstroom overturned between Sterkstroom and Komani. The driver of the vehicle including five people died on the scene.
Family members who would like more information regarding the claims process and what they are eligible for are asked to kindly contact the RAF’s Regional Office in East London at Metropolitan Building, 4th Floor, corner Drury Lane and Caxton Streets.
There are also 14 Hospital Service Centres which are easily accessible throughout the province: Frere Hospital (East London); Livingstone Hospital (Port Elizabeth); Dorah Nginza Hospital (Port Elizabeth); Nelson Mandela Hospital (Mthatha); Uitenhage Hospital (Uitenhage); Cecilia Makiwane Hospital (Mdantsane); Madzikane Ka Zulu Hospital (Mount Frere); Frontier Hospital (Komani); St Elizabeth Hospital (Lusikisiki); Aliwal North Hospital (Aliwal North); Taylor Bequest Hospital (Matatiele); Midlands Hospital (Graaff Reinet); Butterworth Hospital (Butterworth); and Bizana Office at the Bizana Youth Centre.
Further enquiries can be handled through the Call Centre on 0860 23 55 23 between 7.45am to 6pm from Monday to Friday. Assistance is available in any of the 11 official languages.
