Car accident victims in South Africa are on the receiving end of two major blows – the first being the accident itself, while the second involves criminals looking to make a quick buck by any means necessary.
There have been a growing number of reports of unscrupulous individuals targeting car crash victims in order to seize the benefits paid out by the Road Accident Fund (RAF) for their misfortune.
Can’t catch a break
The criminals trying to steal funds from RAF beneficiaries are organized and frequently resort to violently kidnapping their targets to achieve their goals.
These efforts are primarily concentrated in Mpumalanga, where there has been a surge in break-ins and robberies at RAF beneficiary households, according to News24.
One of the targeted individuals, living in Sesakhile in Tweefontein, explained that three unknown men in a white VW Polo assaulted and kidnapped her from her home in November.
The armed men broke into her kitchen at around 21h00 one evening when the woman was alone, and demanded that she hand over her cellphone, cash, and other valuable possessions.
They took furniture, a TV, laptops, phones, clothes, and kitchen appliances, and kidnapped the woman by tying her hands and putting on a blindfold.
She was taken to an ATM in a secluded area and forced to make transactions, including calling her eldest children to transfer money.
The woman was eventually abandoned at around 03h30 with severe injuries 50km outside of town before a local farmer discovered her.
It was explained that she had recently received a payout from the RAF following a successful claim, but that she had only told close family members about the benefits, so it was unclear how the criminals discovered she was a target.
She had not bought any luxury items, such as a car or clothing, that could have tipped off casual observers that she had received the money, making her suspect that a relative may have informed the thieves about her situation.
Another victim claimed that he was abducted on a Sunday evening last month.
The person, living in Nelspruit, had been in a car accident in 2021, resulting in hand and leg injuries that compromised his ability to work.
The RAF therefore paid out his claim, which made him another target for the province’s violent criminals.
The individual was also accosted by three men in a white Polo, who took him to an isolated area and forced him to withdraw money from his bank account.
He told News24 that it was a traumatic experience and that he wished he never received the RAF money.
The beneficiary did buy a new SUV, but also kept the story of his payout to a small circle of people, leading him to arrive at a similar conclusion that someone he knows must have tipped off the assailants.
The man was in the process of building a new house with the RAF funds, but is no longer able to complete the project, and may also have to return the new car as he can no longer afford to keep it.
These two accounts were corroborated by Acting Mpumalanga police commissioner Major-General Zeph Mkhwanazi, who issued a warning to RAF beneficiaries to remain vigilant following a spike in these attacks.
Mkhwanazi confirmed that at least three more people had undergone a similar experience and were forced to withdraw undisclosed sums of cash in late November.
Four of the people were targeted in their homes, while the last one was taken from their car.
The perpetrators appear to act in groups of three, either with three armed men or with two armed men and a woman.
Police investigations suggest that, in each case, the thieves had detailed knowledge of their target’s RAF payout.
Citizens are therefore advised to be extremely cautious about sharing financial information with anyone, including family members.
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