The South African government has announced the appointment of Waseem Carrim as the new chief executive of the Road Accident Fund (RAF). Carrim takes over the role after serving as acting CEO of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). His appointment was made by Cabinet during a meeting held on 23 September 2026. The RAF has been facing ongoing concerns over its finances, governance, and claims process, and Carrim's appointment is seen as a move to address these challenges.
Carrim brings a wealth of experience in the public sector, having previously served as chief executive of the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and as chief financial officer at NSFAS. During his tenure at NYDA, the agency achieved nine consecutive clean audits and grew its budget from R400 million to R1.5 billion. His experience in financial management and governance is expected to be beneficial in addressing the RAF's challenges.
The RAF has been under scrutiny from Parliament over its financial management, governance, and administration. The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) has been investigating the RAF's governance, financial management, and administration, examining issues including claims processing, procurement, legal costs, audit outcomes, and internal controls. The Special Investigating Unit is also investigating matters involving the RAF, including duplicate payments, irregular procurement, and financial management.
One of the key challenges facing the RAF is the delay in processing claims, which has left road accident victims waiting for compensation. The Association for the Protection of Road Accident Victims has called for reforms to improve the RAF's governance and claims process. Carrim's appointment is seen as a step towards addressing these challenges and improving the RAF's efficiency.
Carrim's appointment as RAF CEO comes at a time when the entity is facing significant financial challenges. The RAF has been criticized for its high administrative costs, and there have been calls for reforms to improve its efficiency. With his experience in financial management, Carrim is expected to play a key role in addressing these challenges.
The RAF's financial management has been a major concern, with the entity facing criticism over its handling of claims and procurement processes. The Special Investigating Unit's investigation into duplicate payments, irregular procurement, and financial management is ongoing, and Carrim will need to address these issues to restore confidence in the RAF.
Carrim's experience in turning around troubled entities will be crucial in addressing the RAF's challenges. With his track record of achieving clean audits and growing budgets, he is well-positioned to lead the RAF towards a more efficient and effective claims process. His appointment is seen as a positive step towards restoring confidence in the RAF and improving its services to road accident victims.
Key points
- Waseem Carrim appointed as new RAF CEO to address financial, governance, and claims process challenges.
