Michael Sakuneka
Michael Sakuneka
Disgruntled guardians of children from various orphanages in the Bolobedu area have accused a social worker of delaying their applications for foster care grants.
They said the social worker, whose name is known to Sowetan, was always unhelpful when approached to enquire about progress on needy children's grant applications.
Agnes Rasebotsa, of Mponeng village in Bolobedu, said she was still waiting for the grants for her two grandchildren, aged 11 and 5, whose applications she submitted in January.
She said her daughter, the mother of the two children, died after a long illness.
"I have followed all the procedures with the help of the community development workers in our area, but it seems all was a waste of time because when I approach the office to check on progress, she gets angry with me," Rasebotsa said.
Another parent, Elvis Letsoalo, of GaMabulana village, who also waited for a year to get the foster care grant for his two nieces, said it took about 12 months for the money to be paid out because the social worker was allegedly ignorant.
A community development worker in the area, Dugma Mamanyoga, said they had received several complaints about the social worker's attitude.
Health and social development spokesman Phuti Seloba said there were procedures to be followed before the grants were paid out.
He said as soon as the social worker received a case, she investigated it and presented her findings to a magistrate, before a decision was taken.
Seloba appealed to grant applicants to be patient, and leave everything in the hands of the social worker.
Attempts to get the social worker's comment were unsuccessful.
Anger over child grants 'dawdling'
Michael Sakuneka
Michael Sakuneka
Disgruntled guardians of children from various orphanages in the Bolobedu area have accused a social worker of delaying their applications for foster care grants.
They said the social worker, whose name is known to Sowetan, was always unhelpful when approached to enquire about progress on needy children's grant applications.
Agnes Rasebotsa, of Mponeng village in Bolobedu, said she was still waiting for the grants for her two grandchildren, aged 11 and 5, whose applications she submitted in January.
She said her daughter, the mother of the two children, died after a long illness.
"I have followed all the procedures with the help of the community development workers in our area, but it seems all was a waste of time because when I approach the office to check on progress, she gets angry with me," Rasebotsa said.
Another parent, Elvis Letsoalo, of GaMabulana village, who also waited for a year to get the foster care grant for his two nieces, said it took about 12 months for the money to be paid out because the social worker was allegedly ignorant.
A community development worker in the area, Dugma Mamanyoga, said they had received several complaints about the social worker's attitude.
Health and social development spokesman Phuti Seloba said there were procedures to be followed before the grants were paid out.
He said as soon as the social worker received a case, she investigated it and presented her findings to a magistrate, before a decision was taken.
Seloba appealed to grant applicants to be patient, and leave everything in the hands of the social worker.
Attempts to get the social worker's comment were unsuccessful.