Given Mahlalela
Given Mahlalela
Emily Mashele, 73, is breathing a sigh of relief after she received her eagerly and long-awaited identity document (ID) yesterday.
The Department of Home Affairs in Tonga, Mpumalanga, held a celebration to hand over the ID to the poverty-stricken Mashele of Naas Trust near Komatipoort in Mpumalanga.
" It has been too long waiting for my ID to be released. This has been affecting my whole life, as I was unable to register for the government old-age grant.
"My ID reflected that I was born in 1954 whereas I was not. I thank the department for what it has done to help me," said Mashele, holding back tears of joy.
She looks after six grandchildren whose parents have died.
A manager at Tonga Home Affairs offices, Philip Sithole, said they had been trying to correct Mashele's age since last year.
"As part of our new strategy, we committed ourselves to a no-error department. The delays were caused by our senior officials who took time to rectify the old lady's plight," said Sithole.
ID blues over for granny
Given Mahlalela
Given Mahlalela
Emily Mashele, 73, is breathing a sigh of relief after she received her eagerly and long-awaited identity document (ID) yesterday.
The Department of Home Affairs in Tonga, Mpumalanga, held a celebration to hand over the ID to the poverty-stricken Mashele of Naas Trust near Komatipoort in Mpumalanga.
" It has been too long waiting for my ID to be released. This has been affecting my whole life, as I was unable to register for the government old-age grant.
"My ID reflected that I was born in 1954 whereas I was not. I thank the department for what it has done to help me," said Mashele, holding back tears of joy.
She looks after six grandchildren whose parents have died.
A manager at Tonga Home Affairs offices, Philip Sithole, said they had been trying to correct Mashele's age since last year.
"As part of our new strategy, we committed ourselves to a no-error department. The delays were caused by our senior officials who took time to rectify the old lady's plight," said Sithole.