LOBAMBA – Road accident survivors and their families are set to get up to triple compensation claims following the Senate’s approval of the Motor Vehicle Accidents Fund Bill No. 6 of 2025, which seeks to raise the total liability limit for multiple claimants from E1 million to E3 million.
The Bill, tabled by Minister for Finance Neal Rijkenberg, got the chamber’s majority vote on Tuesday prior to being reviewed by the Ministry of Finance Portfolio Committee before its final enactment by His Majesty King Mswati III.
Once a law, it will amend the Motor Vehicle Accidents Act No. 13 of 1991, modernising the framework to align with current legal and socio-economic developments.
The proposed legislation not only triples the maximum compensation for multiple claimants up to E3 million but also doubles the general damages’ limit per claimant from E150,000 to E300,000.
Fare-paying passengers will see their benefits rise dramatically from E200,000 to E1.5 million, while social passengers—those travelling without paying—will receive between E200,000 and E1.5 million, up from the previous range of E50,000 to E500,000.
Workmen’s compensation limits will also expand from E100,000 to E1 million, and funeral expense claims will increase from E10,000 to E15,000.
Minister Rijkenberg revealed that the Motor Vehicle Accidents Fund (SMVAF) has paid out over E600 million in compensation over the past five years, underscoring the financial and social burden of road crashes.
Beyond monetary increases, the bill introduces modern definitions to accommodate technological and environmental changes. The definition of “fuel” will now include electric energy sources, ensuring electric vehicle users contribute to the fund via a revised fuel levy. The term “driving” will also encompass driverless vehicles, aligning Eswatini’s laws with global transport trends.
The claim lodging period will be reduced from 24 months to four months, a move aimed at minimising “incurred but not reported” claims. However, claimants will retain the right to appeal the Fund’s decisions within 12 months in court.
If enacted, the Motor Vehicle Accidents Fund Bill 2025 will mark one of Eswatini’s most significant social protection reforms in decades, ensuring equitable compensation, modern compliance, and improved protection for victims of road accidents.
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