A MDANTSANE pensioner has fallen prey to fraudsters who allegedly abused his mental handicap to steal his money.
Patricia Majola claimed that her brother, Lawrence Majola’s disability grant had been stolen by a former landlord. She said the landlord attacked Lawrence in Highway, Mdantsane last month, two weeks before he received his grant.
“His ID was taken, a new benefit card was made and his money was withdrawn,” Majola said.
She said they were unable to get Lawrence’s grant last week despite getting a new card and ID. “I’ m worried that my brother’s condition will deteriorate. He is not well ; we need that money,” Majola said .
She said in the past she was her brother’s procurator and managed his money every month.
But due to the new system introduced by the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) she was now unable to access her brother’s grant.
“Previously I was identified, by fingerprints, as the procurator. Now my name is off the system,” said Majola .
Sassa spokesman Luzuko Qina said procurators had to re-register.
“But only one card will be issued to the procurator; the beneficiary will not a card,” he said, urging the family to visit Sassa offices.
He also said the matter should be reported to the police.
Patricia added that the long queues at Sassa paypoints did not cater for people with special needs.
Yesterday hundreds of social grant beneficiaries queued outside St George’s Memorial Hall waiting for their grants.
Nomathemba Mzamo said she had been waiting since the early hours to get her money. “There are no chairs to sit on; we have to stand in the hot sun,” said Mzamo.
South African National Civic Organisation’s Trayishini Nelani said they were concerned at the long queues at shops and banks.
“Queuing starts as early as 3am and people have fainted,” he said .
Holiday Jakadyani said some elderly people were robbed at paypoints. “Something has to be done . It is sad to see the elderly being robbed,” he said.
Qina said the new cards gave beneficiaries multiple channels to access their grants.
He said some people did not know how to use the additional channels and ended up going to the same place.
“This is something we need to work on to educate our people. This is still new to them,” he said. — /
Pensioner has ‘grant stolen’
Patricia Majola claimed that her brother, Lawrence Majola’s disability grant had been stolen by a former landlord. She said the landlord attacked Lawrence in Highway, Mdantsane last month, two weeks before he received his grant.
“His ID was taken, a new benefit card was made and his money was withdrawn,” Majola said.
She said they were unable to get Lawrence’s grant last week despite getting a new card and ID. “I’ m worried that my brother’s condition will deteriorate. He is not well ; we need that money,” Majola said .
She said in the past she was her brother’s procurator and managed his money every month.
But due to the new system introduced by the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) she was now unable to access her brother’s grant.
“Previously I was identified, by fingerprints, as the procurator. Now my name is off the system,” said Majola .
Sassa spokesman Luzuko Qina said procurators had to re-register.
“But only one card will be issued to the procurator; the beneficiary will not a card,” he said, urging the family to visit Sassa offices.
He also said the matter should be reported to the police.
Patricia added that the long queues at Sassa paypoints did not cater for people with special needs.
Yesterday hundreds of social grant beneficiaries queued outside St George’s Memorial Hall waiting for their grants.
Nomathemba Mzamo said she had been waiting since the early hours to get her money. “There are no chairs to sit on; we have to stand in the hot sun,” said Mzamo.
South African National Civic Organisation’s Trayishini Nelani said they were concerned at the long queues at shops and banks.
“Queuing starts as early as 3am and people have fainted,” he said .
Holiday Jakadyani said some elderly people were robbed at paypoints. “Something has to be done . It is sad to see the elderly being robbed,” he said.
Qina said the new cards gave beneficiaries multiple channels to access their grants.
He said some people did not know how to use the additional channels and ended up going to the same place.
“This is something we need to work on to educate our people. This is still new to them,” he said. — /
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