An Eastern Cape man has appeared in court after allegedly trying to defraud the Road Accident Fund of about R10 million through a disputed injury claim.

The RAF fraud case involves Malibongwe Ntsentselele, 51, who allegedly claimed he suffered serious injuries after falling from a moving vehicle near Ngqeleni in 2019. According to IOL, the Hawks arrested him on Thursday before he appeared in the Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crime Court.

RAF fraud case centres on disputed R10m claim

Ntsentselele appeared in the Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crime Court and was granted R1,000 bail, according to IOL. The case was postponed to 25 June 2026 for docket contents.

Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana said the allegation relates to a Road Accident Fund claim. Ntsentselele allegedly claimed he was injured after falling from a moving motor vehicle on 30 December 2019 at Hluleka, near Ngqeleni, while he was a passenger.

According to IOL, the RAF identified several red flags while assessing the claim. The fund later repudiated the claim and referred the matter to the Hawks for further investigation.

Investigators found that the RAF could have suffered a possible financial loss of about R10 million. Mhlakuvana said the alleged conduct amounted to an attempt to exploit a statutory compensation system meant for genuine road accident victims.

Alleged false testimony now forms part of case

The RAF fraud case also includes a perjury allegation. According to IOL, Ntsentselele allegedly appeared in court proceedings on 29 January 2026 and gave false testimony under oath in support of the disputed claim.

After being sworn in, he reportedly testified that he had fallen from a moving truck on 30 December 2019. Mhlakuvana said investigators later disproved that version of events.

“The alleged false testimony was intended not only to advance a fraudulent claim but also had the potential to mislead the court and undermine public confidence in the justice system,” Mhlakuvana said, according to IOL.

The Road Accident Fund provides cover to road users in South Africa and compensates people injured as a result of motor vehicle accidents, according to the RAF. The fund was established under the Road Accident Fund Act 56 of 1996.

Specialised court handles commercial crime matters

The matter is being heard in the Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crime Court. The National Prosecuting Authority says its Specialised Commercial Crime Unit deals with complex commercial crimes and works closely with the Hawks on priority investigations.

No plea has been reported at this stage. Newsroom found no separate public response from Ntsentselele or his legal representative at the time of publication.