Johannesburg – Former Springbok captain and Rugby World Cup winner John Smit is embarking on a new chapter as a RoadCover brand ambassador.
One of South Africa’s most respected sporting figures, Smit will work with RoadCover on public-awareness initiatives aimed at making information about road accidents and the Road Accident Fund (RAF) easier to understand.
For Smit, the partnership is an opportunity to use the platform he built through sport to contribute to an issue that affects millions of South Africans.
An avid cyclist, he understands firsthand the importance of safer roads for all road users.
“Rugby has taken me on an extraordinary journey and given me a platform I’ve always believed should be used for more than sport,” Smit said on Thursday, 29 October 2026.
“Our roads connect all of us; they take us to work, to school, to our families, to training and home again.
“If I can use my voice to encourage safer roads and help people understand their rights when something does go wrong, that’s something worth being part of.”
A different kind of team
The partnership forms part of a broader RoadCover initiative to work with trusted South Africans who can help amplify road-safety awareness and public education.
RoadCover CEO Amanda Rogaly said the goal is not to build a traditional stable of celebrity ambassadors.
“We aren’t looking for famous faces to hold up a product,” Rogaly said.
“We are looking for people who have travelled remarkable roads of their own and who understand that influence comes with responsibility.
“John epitomises that. His road has taken him from the rugby field to captaining his country, lifting a World Cup and building a life beyond professional sport.
“It feels incredibly fitting that RoadCover should now become another part of that journey and that he can use his road to help someone else on theirs.”
Knowing your rights after and accident
A key focus of Smit’s role will be helping to simplify public understanding of the Road Accident Fund and the rights of people injured in road accidents.
For many South Africans, their first encounter with the RAF comes during one of the most difficult periods of their lives, after a serious injury or the loss of a loved one.
Understanding what to do next, whether a claim may be valid and how the RAF process works can be overwhelming.
RoadCover manages the entire RAF claims process on behalf of its members, from start to finish, for R49 per family per month or R29 for an individual.
No fees or expenses are deducted from a successful settlement, meaning claimants receive 100% of their RAF payout.
Rogaly said education needs to happen long before an accident occurs.
“There is an enormous knowledge gap in South Africa around what happens after a road accident,” Rogaly said.
‘’People often don’t know their rights until they suddenly need them.
“We want to change that.
“Knowledge is part of protection, and the more people we can educate before an accident happens, the better.”
A responsibility that starts before the accident
While RoadCover’s core business is managing RAF claims for its members, the company believes its role extends beyond assisting people after an accident.
RoadCover is increasingly investing in public education, road-safety awareness and preventative initiatives aimed at making South African roads safer.
The philosophy is simple: while RoadCover’s work may begin after an accident, its responsibility starts long before one.
For Smit, whose career was built on leadership and teamwork, that message resonates.
“Road safety isn’t someone else’s problem,” Smit said.
Every one of us uses the road in some way.
“If we can get more South Africans thinking differently about road safety and understanding what their rights are, we can make a meaningful difference.”
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