Latest news with #RAF
The Star
an hour ago
- Politics
- The Star
Fierce backlash against proposed Road Accident Benefit Scheme Bill following RAF board dissolution
The Department of Transport's move to revive the long-rejected Road Accident Benefit Scheme (RABS) Bill has sparked concerns, following Minister Barbara Creecy's announcement that she has dissolved the Road Accident Fund (RAF) Board due to ongoing governance and operational failures. Creecy, who recently took over the transport portfolio, said the dissolution was necessary to stabilise the RAF and restore its ability to fulfil its mandate. She also confirmed the department's intention to finalise the Road Accident Benefits Scheme (RABS) Bill, a move that various organisations say is both undemocratic and dangerous. The department explained that the RABS Bill seeks to replace the current fault-based compensation model with a no-fault system, removing the need for costly legal processes. Civil society organisations, legal experts, and advocacy groups, many of whom have fought against the bill for years, have condemned its reintroduction. Among them is the Association for the Protection of Road Accident Victims (APRAV), which warned that pushing the bill forward again is a direct affront to democracy. 'Parliament has rejected RABS three times already,' said APRAV Deputy Chairperson and spokesperson Ngoako Mohlaloga. 'The continued attempt to revive it is either deliberate ignorance or a strategic attempt to bypass the will of the people.' APRAV Chairperson Pieter de Bruyn said the bill was rejected not only by lawmakers but also by road accident victims, legal professionals, disability rights groups, and medical experts. 'RABS would have stripped victims of their right to legal recourse, capped compensation, and imposed rigid limitations,' he said. 'It was unworkable and unjust, and its continued reappearance shows this is about pushing a political agenda, not real reform.' APRAV also pointed out that it led a two-year national consultation process that resulted in a credible and workable alternative to RABS, one that would fix the RAF without violating constitutional rights or collapsing the public purse. Legal expert Kirstie Haslam, a personal injury attorney and partner at DSC Attorneys, told Independent Media that the RABS Bill fails to tackle the real problems at the RAF, namely, poor management, inefficiency, and lack of accountability. 'RABS replaces a broken system with another flawed one,' Haslam said. 'It doesn't fix the root causes of RAF's dysfunction, and worse, it strips victims of access to justice by capping payouts and removing the right to claim for general damages.' She also added that the bill's attempt to limit legal oversight raises serious constitutional concerns and could face court challenges if passed in its current form. Haslam further highlighted troubling trends in the RAF's finances, which, although improved, have come at a cost. The RAF's 2023/2024 annual report shows the deficit has dropped from R8.43 billion to R1.59 billion, but partly due to reduced medical and loss-of-earnings payouts. Despite the tightening of spending, courts continue to issue significant awards. She revealed a series of recent payouts, such as in April, when a woman received over R4.6 million following the death of her husband in a motorcycle accident. That same month, another claimant, Seronica Nathram, was awarded nearly R3.9 million for injuries sustained in a crash. Another case involving the Road Accident Fund that commanded attention involved 16-year-old Ashwell Bernard Jones, where the Western Cape High Court awarded Jones just under R4,979,832 for future loss of earnings. He was only eight years old when he sustained a serious brain injury after being hit by a vehicle while riding his bicycle in Lavender Hill in 2017. The court ordered the RAF to cover all legal costs, including expert fees, travel expenses, and the possible appointment of a curator to manage the funds. The RAF was given 180 days to make payment, or interest will begin to accrue. While many groups remain opposed to the revival of RABS, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has backed the minister, calling the RAF a 'disaster site' with liabilities exceeding R400 billion. 'The RAF has become dysfunctional and has failed working-class South Africans for too long,' COSATU said in a statement. 'It's time for bold reform.' Responding to questions, the RAF Head of Corporate Communications, McIntosh Polela, said the RABS Bill is being revisited to address longstanding issues in the current RAF Act. 'The RABS Bill aims to reduce litigation, cut high administrative costs, and accelerate claim finalisation,' the fund said. 'It is part of a broader strategy led by the Department of Transport to ease the pressure on the courts and better serve road accident victims.' [email protected] Saturday Star
The Sun
2 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
Inside eerie £1m mansion abandoned in countryside with classic BMW still in driveway after millionaire owner ‘vanishes'
AN urban explorer has revealed creepy shots of an abandoned millionaire's mansion - with the car still in the driveway and a half-eaten meal in the kitchen. The sprawling property looks as though it's frozen in time, with the lights still left on and kids' toys scattered on the floor. 5 Inside, luxurious furniture, clothes and family photos are coated in a thick layer of dust. Piles of mail lay unopened on the floor and the cupboard is filled with tins with sell-by-dates of around three years. Nestled on the outskirts of London, according to the explorer, the house was once owned by a former RAF officer who became a wealthy oil company executive. The man who found it, known online as 'Urbex Forgotten,' described it as 'stepping into a time capsule.' He told The Mirror, 'It was honestly like the people just popped out to the shops and never came back.' The explorer, named Colin, said he had "heard a few stories" about why the property was abandoned, but it still remains a mystery. Some suggest the owner fled financial trouble, and others whisper about legal issues. But no one really knows—and that's what makes it so chilling. Other fancy cars were found scattered about the land, including a pristine Jaguar XK8. "I cannot believe this is in here, this is crazy," Colin added. Inside the abandoned wreck of Ibiza's first super club The car was originally registered in 2001 and its MOT ran out in 2014. "It currently has 19,000 miles on it, so I don't think this car has been used a lot at all.' Earlier this month, a YouTuber discovered an eerie abandoned town which looks like a scene out of Walking Dead. The creepy abandoned community was once home to thousands of British soldiers but now it is slowly decaying with buildings falling apart. An entire village, with hundreds of enormous four-bedroom homes, a barrack-like apartment complex, sports facilities and even a gas station, has been frozen in time for more than ten years and is now being reclaimed by nature. The abandoned site looks like a typical British town, with many of the houses resembling English architecture and having their own garages, some of which are unlocked. But it is located in Germany and was built during the height of Cold War by the British government. JHQ Rheindahlen once housed up to 12,000 British personnel and their families between 1952 and 2013. Colin Hodson, known online as the Bearded Explorer, said on his channel: "This place is so big it is pretty much its own city. "I cannot believe this whole estate is completely abandoned.' 5 5 5 5
IOL News
3 hours ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Fierce backlash against proposed Road Accident Benefit Scheme Bill following RAF board dissolution
Various organisations have raised significant concerns regarding the proposed finalisation of the Road Accident Benefit Scheme (RABS) Bill, especially following a crucial move by the Minister of Transport, Ms. Barbara Creecy, who has dissolved the Board of Directors of the Road Accident Fund (RAF). Various organisations have raised significant concerns regarding the proposed finalisation of the Road Accident Benefit Scheme (RABS) Bill, especially following a crucial move by the Minister of Transport, Ms. Barbara Creecy, who has dissolved the Board of Directors of the Road Accident Fund (RAF). The Department of Transport's move to revive the long-rejected Road Accident Benefit Scheme (RABS) Bill has sparked concerns, following Minister Barbara Creecy's announcement that she has dissolved the Road Accident Fund (RAF) Board due to ongoing governance and operational failures. Creecy, who recently took over the transport portfolio, said the dissolution was necessary to stabilise the RAF and restore its ability to fulfil its mandate. She also confirmed the department's intention to finalise the Road Accident Benefits Scheme (RABS) Bill, a move that various organisations say is both undemocratic and dangerous. The department explained that the RABS Bill seeks to replace the current fault-based compensation model with a no-fault system, removing the need for costly legal processes. Civil society organisations, legal experts, and advocacy groups, many of whom have fought against the bill for years, have condemned its reintroduction. Among them is the Association for the Protection of Road Accident Victims (APRAV), which warned that pushing the bill forward again is a direct affront to democracy. 'Parliament has rejected RABS three times already,' said APRAV Deputy Chairperson and spokesperson Ngoako Mohlaloga. 'The continued attempt to revive it is either deliberate ignorance or a strategic attempt to bypass the will of the people.' APRAV Chairperson Pieter de Bruyn said the bill was rejected not only by lawmakers but also by road accident victims, legal professionals, disability rights groups, and medical experts. 'RABS would have stripped victims of their right to legal recourse, capped compensation, and imposed rigid limitations,' he said. 'It was unworkable and unjust, and its continued reappearance shows this is about pushing a political agenda, not real reform.' APRAV also pointed out that it led a two-year national consultation process that resulted in a credible and workable alternative to RABS, one that would fix the RAF without violating constitutional rights or collapsing the public purse. Legal expert Kirstie Haslam, a personal injury attorney and partner at DSC Attorneys, told Independent Media that the RABS Bill fails to tackle the real problems at the RAF, namely, poor management, inefficiency, and lack of accountability. 'RABS replaces a broken system with another flawed one,' Haslam said. 'It doesn't fix the root causes of RAF's dysfunction, and worse, it strips victims of access to justice by capping payouts and removing the right to claim for general damages.' She also added that the bill's attempt to limit legal oversight raises serious constitutional concerns and could face court challenges if passed in its current form. Haslam further highlighted troubling trends in the RAF's finances, which, although improved, have come at a cost. The RAF's 2023/2024 annual report shows the deficit has dropped from R8.43 billion to R1.59 billion, but partly due to reduced medical and loss-of-earnings payouts. Despite the tightening of spending, courts continue to issue significant awards. She revealed a series of recent payouts, such as in April, when a woman received over R4.6 million following the death of her husband in a motorcycle accident. That same month, another claimant, Seronica Nathram, was awarded nearly R3.9 million for injuries sustained in a crash. Another case involving the Road Accident Fund that commanded attention involved 16-year-old Ashwell Bernard Jones, where the Western Cape High Court awarded Jones just under R4,979,832 for future loss of earnings. He was only eight years old when he sustained a serious brain injury after being hit by a vehicle while riding his bicycle in Lavender Hill in 2017. The court ordered the RAF to cover all legal costs, including expert fees, travel expenses, and the possible appointment of a curator to manage the funds. The RAF was given 180 days to make payment, or interest will begin to accrue. While many groups remain opposed to the revival of RABS, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has backed the minister, calling the RAF a 'disaster site' with liabilities exceeding R400 billion. 'The RAF has become dysfunctional and has failed working-class South Africans for too long,' COSATU said in a statement. 'It's time for bold reform.' Responding to questions, the RAF Head of Corporate Communications, McIntosh Polela, said the RABS Bill is being revisited to address longstanding issues in the current RAF Act. 'The RABS Bill aims to reduce litigation, cut high administrative costs, and accelerate claim finalisation,' the fund said. 'It is part of a broader strategy led by the Department of Transport to ease the pressure on the courts and better serve road accident victims.' Saturday Star
The National
19 hours ago
- Politics
- The National
Nadia El-Nakla: My family starves in Gaza while the world watches
These are my cousin Sally's words to me on Wednesday evening. Think of the anger and heartbreak so many of us feel watching the images of emaciated children. Now imagine living through that nightmare, watching your own children crying in pain, while you yourself haven't had a proper meal or adequate water in nearly 40 degree heat, for days. All of this, while knowing that tonnes of food and aid is merely kilometres away, but deliberately being withheld from you, in an attempt to slowly kill you and your people. And of course, the entire world is watching, and world leaders from across the globe are impotently inactive. At best, they produce statements, but words are not enough to feed a family. At worst, too many governments continue to be complicit in the genocide we are witnessing, such as the UK Government. The Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, described the scenes of starvation in Gaza as 'grotesque'. Not grotesque enough to stop selling the Israeli government weapons and munitions, not grotesque enough to stop training IDF soldiers in the UK, not grotesque enough to stop RAF flights over [[Gaza]] that are reportedly feeding the Israelis with intelligence. Humza and I have been flooded by messages from people right across the world who are both angered and heartbroken at the scenes we are witnessing in Gaza. All of them are asking the same question 'What more can we do?' READ MORE: Donald Trump protest near mother's birthplace planned for Scotland visit Firstly, it is important we keep going, we keep petitioning, pressuring and pleading with the Government to use all the levers at their disposal to end this man-made humanitarian catastrophe. From banning international journalists from entering Gaza, to targeting and killing those reporters who live in Gaza – the Israeli government is doing its best to silence the voices of the people of Gaza, to hide the truth. That is why we need to keep raising our voices. The time for mealy-mouthed statements from our leaders is over. When pregnant mothers can no longer get the basic nourishment they require, it is time to stop equivocating. The first set of actions the UK Government must take it to end its complicity in the genocide we are witnessing. There can be no justification to continue to sell arms to a regime headed by a man wanted by the world's highest criminal court for war crimes, and crimes against humanity, including using starvation as a weapon of war. They UK must stop all elements of security and defence co-operation with Israel. From RAF reconnaissance flights over Gaza to training IDF soldiers – all of it must end, and end immediately. READ MORE: Daily Express front page piles pressure on Labour to act on Gaza Next, we must maintain the pressure on the UK Government to treat the government of Israel as the apartheid South African regime was once treated. That must include meaningful sanctions on senior individuals like Netanyahu, but also economic and trade sanctions so Israel feels pressure from the international community. Our children and future generations will study the Gaza Genocide, and wonder how on earth we could possibly let it happen. At the very least, every single one of us alive today has a responsibility to ensure we are on the right side of history. If starving children can not force the world to act, then humanity is completely lost.
The Guardian
a day ago
- Climate
- The Guardian
Two more killed amid raging wildfires in Cyprus and Turkey
Two people have been killed in a huge blaze in Cyprus, bringing the death toll from a series of wildfires on the eastern Mediterranean island and in neighbouring Turkey to 12 amid a brutal heatwave that has pushed temperatures to more than 44C (111F). Police said two charred bodies were found on Thursday in a burnt-out car that had been caught up in the Cyprus blaze, which began outside Limassol on Wednesday and, fanned by strong winds, rapidly engulfed a string of mountain villages north of the city. The fires, described as the worst on the island in more than half a century, devastated large tracts of southern Cyprus, injuring dozens of people and displacing hundreds. An estimated 250 firefighters battled to contain blazes raging on multiple fronts. The government spokesperson, Konstantinos Letymbiotis, said the state 'expresses its deep sorrow … over the unjust loss of two of our fellow citizens', adding that what was happening on the island was unprecedented. After appeals for help from the Nicosia government, Greece, Egypt, Israel and the UK, which has an RAF base on the island, said on Thursday they would be weighing in with air support and firefighters, while the EU was sending in water-bombing planes. By midday, nearly 24 hours after it broke out, the infernos had consumed more than 40 square miles of territory, decimating prime agricultural land and dozens of homes in village communities outside Limassol on the Troodos range. Charalambos Theopemptou, the Green MP who chairs the Cypriot parliament's environmental committee, spoke of a 'tragic situation' with blazes fuelled by extreme high temperatures, gale-force winds and a severe drought. Temperatures nudging 44C were forecast to rise further on Friday as a week-long heatwave intensified across southern Europe. 'We haven't seen such devastating fires since the Turkish invasion in 1974,' Theopemptou told the Guardian. 'It's tragic, people have died, 72 houses and 91 cars have been burned, it's absolute chaos.' He said part of the reason for the destruction was that preventive measures had not been taken, including the implementation of a public warning system that an EU directive voted into law in 2022. 'Illegal waste dumps haven't been cleared, [inflammable] vegetation hasn't been removed, basic infrastructure like big cement water tanks and hose pipe points aren't in place, all of which has helped the fires spread,' he said. At least six separate wildfires were burning across Turkey, the Turkish agriculture and forestry minister, İbrahim Yumakli, said on Thursday, warning that strong winds and scorching heat were creating 'extremely dangerous' conditions across the country. Ten firefighters were killed on Wednesday battling a fire in the western Eskişehir province, with 14 others injured. The fire subsequently spread to Afyonkarahisar, another central province, where several towns and villages were evacuated. The victims were caught when the flames suddenly changed direction, causing them to be 'burned alive', a local MP said. Turkey has been sweltering since Sunday in temperatures ranging between 6C and 12C above the seasonal norms. In the northwestern province of Bilecik, fires raged for a fourth consecutive day, as firefighters struggled to contain them. 'They couldn't intervene. There is no decent road, forests are thick and it's rocky,' Cemil Karadag, a local resident, said. Karadag told Reuters the fire had 'engulfed our village from two or three sides … The firefighters couldn't intervene … It spread very quickly with the effect of the wind, but, thank God, the centre of our village wasn't damaged that much.' A wildfire erupted in the Black Sea province of Sakarya, forcing the closure of a key motorway and the evacuation of several villages and small towns, and others in Karabuk, home of the Unesco world heritage site city of Safranbolu, and Manisa. Scientists have long warned that burning fossil fuels is making extreme weather events such as heatwaves more likely and more intense.
