Fake identity fraud hampers distribution of food parcels in Yeoville

Needy and unemployed Yeoville residents will have to wait a little longer to get their food parcels after it was discovered that some residents were submitting fraudulent identity documents.

This according to Ward 67 councillor Refiloe Mazibuko in an exclusive interview with North Eastern Tribune on 17 April.

Mazibuko said more than 200 people have been affected by the ‘scam’ and will have to wait until the situation had been resolved.

The food parcels are part of a City of Johannesburg initiative to assist the needy during the coronavirus lockdown. During the lockdown, many residents have found themselves in dire situations due to financial constraints and Mazibuko said the City was trying to ensure food security for these people.

She, however, said due to ID fraud, the process had to be delayed to enable the authorities to check and verify the beneficiaries.

“We have discovered that some of the names on the list we have in our possession are fake and belong to deceased people,” said Mazibuko.

“We have also discovered that some people on the list are already receiving social services grants from the government, so they do not qualify for a food subsidy and they want to scam us.”

The list should only contain names of people who were currently unemployed and in serious need of our services, she added.

Mazibuko said as soon as the list was properly checked and the names were verified, food parcels would be delivered to the rightful beneficiaries in the ward.

Meanwhile, a group of Zimbabwean nationals queued outside the Yeoville Recreational Centre on 17 April claiming that they had been called to get food parcels from American donors.

Mazibuko said she did not have any knowledge of such a donation as no one had informed her about it.

“We only received a voice note [about the donation] which has been making the rounds and we have no knowledge of who that person is and who the source of this note is from. We are still investigating and we hope to have this situation resolved urgently.”

The councillor has pleaded with people to avoid exploiting the coronavirus situation by spreading lies and misinforming people with false information.

Details: Rifiloe Mazibuko 074 705 3028.

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