ID theft victim gets runaround
It has been over a month since the Welkom identity fraudster, Josse Thobela, was arrested but victim David Tshabalala is still struggling to claim his identity.
Although 50-year-old Ramokonopi West resident David Tshabalala’s identity theft case was concluded in court and the accused, Josse Thobela, was convicted, the cloud hanging over Tshabalala’s head remains.
In 2001, Tshabalala’s identity was stolen and used to claim the RDP house he applied for in 1997.
His identity was also used to open a bank account at Absa, and loans totalling R180 000 were acquired in his name and credit worth about R21 400 at clothing retail shops.
When he noticed that he was a victim of identity theft, Tshabalala registered a criminal case at the Katlehong South SAPS (Ramokonopi) and later visited the Gauteng Department of Home Affairs (DHA) and Gauteng Department of Human Settlement (GDHS) several times, but he received no assistance.
During an interview Kathorus MAIL conducted with Tshabalala and his partner, Ntswaki Mathithibala (48), at their Katlehong home on October 18, Tshabalala said he still cannot use his ID.
It has been a month and 15 days since the case was closed, but Tshabalala and his family remain devastated. They said the court did not provide them with any written documents that proved the identity belonged to Tshabalala.
He said a letter from the court would have made it easier for him because he could present it to the DHA and GDHS.
Tshabalala said he does not have the courage to revisit the two departments, citing that he was mistreated and does not trust they will help him, more so after all the efforts he previously made to solve the matter in its early stages.
Representative of the GDHS, Yogandree Pillay, told Kathorus MAIL the department is unaware of the challenges faced by Tshabalala.
“All we see on our system is that he applied for a smart ID in 2016 and it was collected,” said Pillay.
A follow-up email to find out whether his ID is still blocked or if the department is investigating the matter garnered no response.
On the other hand, the GDHS’s Colin Pitso said the matter has been escalated to the Rapid Response and Anti-fraud and Corruption Unit for investigation and recommendation.
More details on the story will be published once received from the GDHS and GDHA.
