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'THESE PEOPLE USED TO EAT FROM bins'

A FORMER ANC councillor-turned-priest is accused of making a killing from grants for the mentally and physically disabled.

A FORMER ANC councillor-turned-priest is accused of making a killing from grants for the mentally and physically disabled.

But the priest dismisses the charges as slander by greedy families that resent losing the money they used to collect though they neglected their disabled relatives.

Honey Makobane of Kroonstad in the Free State says Pastor Charles Maloka took her wheelchair-bound brother Thabo and other disabled people to his shelter "so he could pocket their monthly grants".

Thabo's family used to collect his R1100 disability grant on his behalf until he moved to Maloka's shelter.

"In June, I went to collect Thabo's money only to be told that it was cancelled. When I demanded answers I was told that Maloka was now collecting it," said Makobane.

Sowetan paid Maloka a visit on Monday and found about 30 people at his plot in De Meadows, outside Relebohile near Kroonstad.

A woman who once looked after the group claimed that Maloka's employees use a hosepipe to bath those who soil themselves.

"I quit because I could not stand the abuse," said the woman, who asked not to be named.

Maloka denied the allegations.

"These people lived on the streets and ate out of rubbish bins until I rescued them. Their families were happy to collect their grants while neglecting them. I started out by feeding them out of my own pocket. Eventually, I decided to house them in my yard," he said.

He said he uses the grants to care for his charges. "I give them three meals a day and take them for check-ups at the clinic. They all have beds and TVs in the dining halls."

A few of his charges were taking a nap in their rooms, while others were chatting in groups when Sowetan visited They all looked happy and clean.

Maloka introduced us to Teboho Dumisa Maloka.

"This man used to be a thug. I adopted him and even paid his ilobolo for him. Today he is a responsible family man," said Maloka.

A teenage girl in school uniform walked into the sitting room and plonked kisses on Maloka and his wife. She told us the couple adopted her after her parents died.

"One of my adopted children is a doctor," said Maloka proudly.

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