The Law Reform and Development Commission (LRDC), in conjunction with the Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund, wrapped up a nationwide series of public consultations on proposed amendments to the MVA Fund Act aimed at strengthening support for accident victims.

During the consultation, individuals highlighted issues such as the extension of loss benefits to individuals 18 years and older, compensation for the caregiver, the need for additional benefits after the benefit of N$1.5 million is depleted and the need to continue sustaining the victims after the incident.

 LRDC Chairperson Etuna Joshua said that the purpose of the consultations is to enhance and improve service delivery.

"And I'm sure that you and everybody as members of the public have made some observations in terms of how the law can be improved to better save the public. Some of the examples that I can give include the advances in technology. For example, we now have electric vehicles on our road. And as you know, the majority of the funding for the MVA fund comes from fuel levies, which are levied on every litre of diesel or petrol that is sold in the country."
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The Chief Legal Adviser at MVA Fund, Joelynn Kurz, said that consultations are to make the law more responsive to current issues, close legal gaps, clarify the claim process and provide more benefits to accident victims.

"Some of the things that we've noted that are just not working anymore, for instance, are the fact that all our monetary limitations are inside the act itself. So you actually have to go through a process like this, a legislative amendment change, just for us to be talking about it. Isn't it time that we talk about the funeral that's currently still 7,000 from 2008, when the 2007 Act was enacted?"

Written submissions on the amendments will still be accepted until the end of this month.