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SAD PLIGHT: All the elderly, frail Elias Mutavhatsindi wanted was to get away from working as a 'garden boy' in his 70s. But thanks to reports in Sowetan he now has a place to stay and an ID (below).Photos: Andrew Mahlaba

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The ecstatic Elias Mutavhatsindi said he felt like his life had just begun.

"I know because of my age people might think that I am old but I feel renewed inside, I feel like a little boy," he said.

Mutavhatsindi was placed at a state old age home called Sonop in Brits after Sowetan highlighted his plight.

Although he can now apply for an old age pension because he has an ID, he does not qualify for the money because he stays at a government-funded home.

South African Social Security Agency's Smangaliso Semelani said the man would only get his pension grant when he left the old age home.

He said they would only register Mutavhatsindi's existence from the time he applied for his pension grant.

"We cannot account for all those years from the time he reached 65. He can only be paid from the time he applied for the grants according to our policy."

He said, because the shelter is state funded, Mutavhatsindi cannot get the grant as that would be double dipping.

Sowetan exposed Mutavhatsindi's squalid living conditions in April this year, when he was earning R300 a month. He did not know the whereabouts of his family or have an ID.

He was then rescued from his life of squalor by a North West non-governmental organisation called Age in Action, which placed him at the old age home.

After getting help, the Home Affairs department then discovered that his surname was not Tshililo but Mutavhatsindi and that he was 74 years old and not 72 as reported earlier.

He was also re-united with his long-lost brother Wilson who also stayed in Brits.

Home Affairs officials said Mutavhatsindi's ID was delayed because of the mix up.

But the waiting was worthwhile for Mutavhatsindi.

Old age home manager Johanna Tlhapi said his condition had improved so much he is now using a stick rather than a wheelchair, to get around.

- tshehleb@sowetan.co.za

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Mon May 27 04:55:17 SAST 2013 ::

Jul 16, 2012

Lesoba-Le-Boya

Monna-Moholo o ne a emetseng nako e kaofela, nxa...
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Jul 16, 2012

HALFWISE

where is the farmer, he must explain why he allowed the situation to get so much out of hand.
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Jul 16, 2012

Memme

Modimo o lokile ka tsela e makatsang, Mmone feela gore o kgahlisa bjang?
Rea go lebogisa Ntate mogolo ebile re thaba le wena.
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Jul 16, 2012

ntshware-ke-yawa

Now that he got an I.D,wouldn't someone bring him a soulmate?
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Jul 16, 2012

sakhomba

GOD is GREAT.
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Jul 16, 2012

Tsar-Rasputin

Minister Zuma is also feeling like a young girl after winning AU Chaiperson

With respect may I address Ntate Mutavhatsindi and Minister as

"Happy Boy and Girl?

Ha haha!!
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Jul 16, 2012

Printa

This is just heart warming. Thank You Sowetan.
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Jul 16, 2012

dimpho_4U

..its takes the media to expose loopholes within the Home Affairs ..before they make a quick response on pending issues____ anyways great news over the weekend ,Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as the first chairwoman to hold the position as AU Commission Chair..well done ***
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Jul 16, 2012

lebloza

God is great. Re ago lebogisa Ntate. Your face really look different.

We thank you sowetan.

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Jul 16, 2012

masende

MASIMBONGE ONGAPHEZULU,AKUKHO OKUDLULA UBABA,NABAFAZI BAYASHO UKUTHI BABA WETHU
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