Sports stars set to get R4m from RAF

THE Road Accident Fund (RAF) had to dig deep to pay two accident victims – one of whom was once an ace soldier and sportswoman, and the other a then matric pupil who now uses a wheelchair.

In both cases, the RAF was ordered to pay the victims about R4 million.

In the first case, a 27-year-old soldier, Gift Duiker, a member of the SANDF Women's Football team, was injured when the bus taking her to the national championship, overturned in 2018.

The parties had previously settled the merits of the claim, on the basis that the RAF would be liable for 100% of the proven damages.

The accident occurred on the N12 between Britstown and Victoria West after the driver of the bus fell asleep at the wheel and lost control of the vehicle.

Duiker lost consciousness and was taken to hospital with a tendon injury on the right hand, soft-tissue injury to the right arm, a head injury, soft-tissue injuries to both knees, bruises, abrasions and cuts, and emotional shock and trauma.

She was left with what is known as a claw hand, and her other injuries left her unable to play sport.

Before the accident, she was a rifleman in the infantry battalion. Part of her duties were to operate a rifle and a multigrenade launcher and to drive a Ratel combat vehicle.

She also regularly qualified for deployment, serving in two international deployments and one national deployment.

While she remains employed with the SANDF, she is now an administrative clerk in the sports section.

As a result of her injuries, Duiker can no longer drive a combat vehicle or perform any of the functions required of a rifleman.

The high court sitting in Kimberley ordered the RAF to pay her slightly more than R4m.

Meanwhile, a matric pupil who was rendered a tetraplegic (unable to move both the lower and upper parts of his body) is due to receive R4.1m from the RAF.

He may not be identified as he is under age.

He suffered severe spinal injuries after the driver of the vehicle in which he was a passenger lost control of the vehicle, which overturned.

He, too, was a keen sportsman, captain of his school’s rugby first team and played first-team cricket.

He was a youth leader in a Christian organisation.

Medical experts testified that his spinal fractures caused paraplegia and permanent nerve damage to his upper arms and hands.

This means that he has very limited hand function. He is unable to perform the simple task of making a sandwich. He cannot write properly, and he finds it difficult to type.

He cannot dress himself, wash or eat without help.

He lacks the strength to push himself in his wheelchair or lift himself to reduce pressure when sitting (thus preventing pressure sores).

He needs someone to change his position every hour.

Apart from having to pay him R4.1m, the RAF also has to foot the bill for his medical expenses.