31 Aug 2023

The Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVA Fund) offers income for claimants who are severely injured and have lost their source of income or employment, says the fund’s acting case manager, Ms Thomo Mokgatle.

Speaking during a consultation meeting with claimants in Gaborone on Wednesday, Ms Mokgatle said a maximum of P6 000 was offered to bridge the income gap.

She said the offer was terminated when the claimant turned 60 years as it was the retirement age.

She said the amount was standard regardless of how much one earned while employed or able.

Ms Mokgatle also said those injured beyond 60 years were not included in the offer, but were assisted to rehabilitate.

She said as assessment was done for all those who lost their income as the employer was perceived as the main insurer.

She said non-negligent road users’ benefitted up to P1 million, adding that the MVA Act recognised that there were two categories of claimants.

She said the loss of income cover was both long-term and short-term depending on the injury, and that those who were rehabilitated and went back to their source of income or employment were covered within the short-term.

Reports of physiotherapists and psychologists were used to determine which cover one fell under.

However, she said for one to qualify they had to submit a sick leave and evidence of loss of income from their employer.

She said those in the informal sector could submit bank statements that indicated they had income.

She decried the lack of improvement in the lives of those receiving the loss of income benefit. Ms Mokgatle also said fraud was a challenge as some people submitted counterfeit sick leaves and evidence of income.

For his part, Absa Bank business development officer, Mr Max Nthai, said one must know how much they needed daily, and that the needs must be separated from the wants.

Mr Nthai urged people to budget and that they should buy according to their needs and not external influences.

He advised claimants to neither give anyone their debit cards nor personal identification numbers (PIN).

He encouraged claimants to save.

However, some claimants said the money was not enough to cover the cost of living.

They said cutting them off at 60 years left them in the lurch, as they had five more years to earn pension allowance. ENDS