The Road Accident Fund (RAF) has petitioned the President of the SCA after the same court refused to hear its leave to appeal in a matter over its decision to change its accounting policies.

A Cape Times report says this comes after the SCA found there were no prospects of success when RAF sought relief after the Gauteng High Court (Pretoria) turned down its leave to appeal.

At the centre of the appeal is whether RAF is an insurance fund or a social benefit fund.

Briefing Scopa yesterday, RAF CEO Collins Letsoalo said they disagreed with the High Court finding that they were an insurer amid an adverse finding by the Auditor-General for not complying with prescribed accounting standards.

‘We have taken it on review for obvious reasons. We don't think that is the case. It is in front of the SCA. We have asked for reconsideration by the President of the SCA,’ Letsoalo said – adding that the SCA had turned down their leave to appeal on grounds that it did not meet the requirements of a special appeal.

RAF board chairperson Zanele Francois said at the core of their legal challenge was that there was no appropriate social benefit standard to be applied around the recognition of claims liability in the country.

‘We need a technical solution irrespective of what is going on with the courts. The sooner we get technical standards that is relevant, this matter will be technically resolved,’ Francois said.

Full Cape Times report