A Mdantsane woman who broke her ankle in 2012 has been trying to access a Sassa disability grant for the last three years to no avail.
Sindiswa Tunzana broke her ankle walking on a downhill road in her neighbourhood. Her ankle and leg were plastered and a few wires were put into the ligament.
However, on removing the plaster, it transpired she had developed a wound which had festered, making it impossible for her to work.
She said at times the wound produced maggots.
Tunzana approached the department of social development and the office of the presidency via e-mail for assistance.
When she was able to work she was a part-time domestic worker and relief cleaner. She also sold chicken at Mdantsane’s Highway taxi rank.
The mother of four lives in NU3 with two of her children and a granddaughter aged one. The two children are still in school. She was the breadwinner of the family.
“Sometimes there’s absolutely nothing to eat here, at times for two whole days. When the situation is really bad I have to ask my mother, who lives in the rural areas, to help and at times all she can afford is R200,” said the 52-year-old.
Tunzana said the wires in her ankle were removed at Frere Hospital last week and because her wound was beginning to show bone, she was told it would be patched with a piece from elsewhere on her body.
She tried to get the doctor to write a letter to Sassa about her condition, but the doctor refused.
“It got me thinking that for all these years I had been given the wrong medication,” she said.
Thamsanqa Singeni, the provincial Sassa spokesman, advised Tunzana to visit the nearest Sassa office with “her medical records or referral letter from the treating clinic.
“On arrival at Sassa offices, Sassa must issue a medical form to the beneficiary, which must be completed by a department of health doctor.
“Upon completion, the form must be returned to Sassa offices for capturing,” Singeni said.
He said when returning the form, the patient would also need to bring their green bar-coded ID or a temporary one, their recent medical records, proof of income, a bank statement and a marriage certificate with their spouse’s ID if married.
The information would then be captured and a report permanently approving, temporarily approving or declining the application would be generated. If the grant was not approved, a Sassa official would explain why and inform the patient about the appeal process.
Health spokesman Siyanda Manana said the department’s role in the matter was to confirm the disability.
“Health does not supply forms related to disability grants,” he said.
Woman no longer able to work battles to secure grant
Sindiswa Tunzana broke her ankle walking on a downhill road in her neighbourhood. Her ankle and leg were plastered and a few wires were put into the ligament.
However, on removing the plaster, it transpired she had developed a wound which had festered, making it impossible for her to work.
She said at times the wound produced maggots.
Tunzana approached the department of social development and the office of the presidency via e-mail for assistance.
When she was able to work she was a part-time domestic worker and relief cleaner. She also sold chicken at Mdantsane’s Highway taxi rank.
The mother of four lives in NU3 with two of her children and a granddaughter aged one. The two children are still in school. She was the breadwinner of the family.
“Sometimes there’s absolutely nothing to eat here, at times for two whole days. When the situation is really bad I have to ask my mother, who lives in the rural areas, to help and at times all she can afford is R200,” said the 52-year-old.
Tunzana said the wires in her ankle were removed at Frere Hospital last week and because her wound was beginning to show bone, she was told it would be patched with a piece from elsewhere on her body.
She tried to get the doctor to write a letter to Sassa about her condition, but the doctor refused.
“It got me thinking that for all these years I had been given the wrong medication,” she said.
Thamsanqa Singeni, the provincial Sassa spokesman, advised Tunzana to visit the nearest Sassa office with “her medical records or referral letter from the treating clinic.
“On arrival at Sassa offices, Sassa must issue a medical form to the beneficiary, which must be completed by a department of health doctor.
“Upon completion, the form must be returned to Sassa offices for capturing,” Singeni said.
He said when returning the form, the patient would also need to bring their green bar-coded ID or a temporary one, their recent medical records, proof of income, a bank statement and a marriage certificate with their spouse’s ID if married.
The information would then be captured and a report permanently approving, temporarily approving or declining the application would be generated. If the grant was not approved, a Sassa official would explain why and inform the patient about the appeal process.
Health spokesman Siyanda Manana said the department’s role in the matter was to confirm the disability.
“Health does not supply forms related to disability grants,” he said.
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