Dead man alive thanks to new ID
Thanks to CV, a 72-year-old man from Tzaneen who was declared dead by the department of home affairs in Limpopo, recently received a brand new bar-coded ID.
Alex Matlala
LIMPOPO – THANKS to CV, a 72-year-old man from Tzaneen who was declared dead by the department of home affairs in Limpopo, recently received a brand new bar-coded ID.
Pheneus Mahasha of the Mahasha royal family and clan in Kgwekgwe Khethasene outside Tzaneen jumped with joy after receiving the document.
Mahasha, who spent months living from hand to mouth was elated: “I have made it, thanks to Capricorn Voice. What would I be without you?” he asked.
Mahasha, could not benefit from social or old age grants and had his bank account frozen since September last year as he was listed as a deceased person.
In a contradicting turn of events, home affairs later claimed the royal man had been sharing an identity number with someone in the Eastern Cape.
“I am a married man of four children and 14 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. With the money I received every month, I was able to feed all the mouths. But that had turned into a fallacy because I was made a ghost,” said Mahasha.
Mahasha worked at Duiwelskloof Primary School in the Greater Letaba Municipality for more than 44 years.
He retired due to old age in 2007.
“I have already lost my furniture, my herd of goats and sheep and other valuables due to creditors who wanted their money. My house looked like a recreational centre because of people coming to collect my items. Had it not been of the goodness and generosity of my neighbours, my family could have become a laughing stock of the village,” he said.
A senior official at home affairs in Tzaneen who handled Mahasha’s issue, Emily Ngobeni said: “it is our job at home affairs to help people all in the spirit of Ubunto and Batho Pele Principles”.
Man (72) told he does not exist
