Soapie actor Theunis Nel is due to receive R2m in general damages from the Road Accident Fund (RAF) following a motorcycle accident in 2014 after which his arm had to be amputated. A Pretoria News report says Nel suffered severe injuries to his right upper leg, knee, back and neck, and he fractured his pelvis, among other injuries.

Both his lungs had collapsed and he had to have a number of surgical interventions.

He instituted a damages claim against the RAF in the Gauteng High Court (Pretoria).

Nel is mostly dependent on a wheelchair. He was also left with unsightly scarring and cosmetic disfigurement. The court was told that he would probably be disabled for the rest of his life. The RAF was last year ordered by the court to pay 100% of Nel’s proven damages as well as 100% of his accident-related future medical expenses.

Judge Vivian Tlhapi has now ordered that the RAF pay him R2m in general damages, which include pain and suffering, loss of amenities, emotional shock, trauma and disfigurement.

His lawyer Pieter Coetzee – of Gert Nel Incorporated Attorneys – said the R2m awarded at this stage of the proceedings was one of the highest for general damages in SA for these type of injuries.

Full Pretoria News report