Forensic investigators at the RAF handed over 707 cases to the police after discovering fraud caused either by staff or illegal claims made by the SA public in the 2016/17 financial year. A Daily Dispatch report says in the last three months in the Eastern Cape, seven cases have been referred to police from 153 complaints received by the RAF, 109 of which have already been finalised and closed during the period to the value of more than R147m.

The RAF’s Paul Modipa said the organisation was experiencing high volumes of fraudulent cases caused from theft of patient folders – which were sold from R5 000 to R200 000 – while mandate changes between attorneys, theft of trust funds by attorneys and collusion of employees with service providers were also big problems.

‘We have dealt with cases where an employee has received money from service providers (external lawyers) who then promise claimants they could help them get more money from the fund,’ Modipa said.

‘Leakage of personal details of direct claimants to attorneys is another challenge, while other cases are accident reports of claimants that are fabricated, or they have submitted fraudulent banking details.’

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