Bleak Christmas for pensioners

ALTHOUGH some pensioners in and around Empangeni will be able to enjoy their Christmas celebrations, many old timers and disabled people who are dependent on their state pensions will be devastated and hungry.

Due to fraud and corruption the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) introduced a new and highly sophisticated method of re-registration and payment system in an endeavour to improve the payment situation.

However, according to local pensioners it has been a dismal failure.

‘There is a lack of proper SASSA staff training, communication with the hoards of illiterate people, poorly equipped venues and there is a desperate need for the involvement of local leaders and politicians in the community,’ said resident and pensioner Ray Peyters.

‘Recently there was a 16 days of activism campaign against the violence of women and children but at the same time I witnessed a great injustice against women and disabled people in Zululand,’ he added.

‘We talk about ‘batho pele’ which means people first and I see fancy notice boards all over government offices that have words like quality service, courtesy from staff, access to accurate information and the like, but I am not impressed as this is not what is practiced,’ said Peyters.

The task team put into effect was stationed at Ngwelezane for almost one month between 15 November and 13 December but have now cleared up and moved on.

Job incomplete

According to Peyters this has been done without the task being completed.

‘While our politicians and officials holiday and party, our pensioners will starve unless the sympathetic section of the population come to their assistance. This is well researched and not just idle talk,’ he said.

SASSA Senior Communications Manager Vusi Mahaye explained that the team recruited was to help the community but residents did not take the initiative to attend.

‘We initiated this project to have extra assistance but 600 people did not pitch up and we have subsequently suspended their payment,’ he said.

‘We had sourced medical doctors from outside Zululand to assess the people and establish what their ailment or disability is, to ensure that they qualify for the relevant grants,’ he explained.

‘This project was launched to establish if the files we have, are of people who exist. The procedure and verification of illnesses is to curb fraudulent cases,’ said Mahaye.

‘Anyone with any concerns can go to the offices for assistance,’ he said.

In January SASSA we will be initiating the same project in eShowe.