The Gauteng Department for Roads and Transport has paid out over R548 498 in settled claims to 32 applicants over the past three years, said the MEC for Roads and Transport, Ismail Vadi , expressing concern that some drivers and fleet operators were filing opportunistic claims.
He claimed that these drivers/operators sometimes used the services of selected legal firms that seemed to be specialising in submitting dubious claims to his department
“The provincial department will scrutinise each and every claim before settling the matter, and will contest a doubtful damage claim that is forwarded to it by a driver/operator or the legal representative,” said Vadi, responding to a question in the provincial legislature yesterday (Wednesday) regarding the cost to the department of damaged vehicle claims due to poor road conditions in the province.
According to Vadi, drivers/operators also do not distinguish between municipal and provincial roads when filing claims with the department, which tends to slow down the process of settling matters.
He said his department had worked hard in fixing potholes and improving the provincial road network.
"The provincial road network has improved substantially as a result of our construction, maintenance and rehabilitation programmes and our regional teams are working daily to repair potholes developing due to the recent heavy rainfall," Vadi said.
