AN ELDERLY Soweto woman has laid criminal charges against the South African Social Security Agency after much of her pension was withdrawn without her knowledge.
Ester Mongadi laid the charge on Tuesday at Snake Park police station after she had discovered that a large amount of her pension was missing when she visited the Snake Park community hall pay-point.
She had only been left with R70.
"I opened a case against Sassa because R1,130 of my pension fund was withdrawn and I was only left with R70," Mongadi, 62, said.
Several other elderly people told Sowetan that money frequently went missing from their accounts and social grants.
Yesterday, a group of elderly people converged outside the Sassa centre in Dobsonville, Soweto.
They had gathered there to make queries and seek answers about monies disappearing mysteriously from their accounts.
One of these, Betty Muthulwa, said she had come to the centre after enquiries about her grandson's grant produced puzzling results.
To her shock, Muthulwa said she found her grandson's account empty when she went to withdraw the money. "This person from Sassa said that when I keep withdrawing from various places this 'problem' occurs," she said.
Her pension for this month was unbalanced, coming in R100 short.
"I receive a grant of R1,200, but this month I received only R1,100 and could not withdraw further.
"I also receive my grandson's grant because I am the main guardian since his mother passed on, but when I went to a local retailer I was told the money was already paid out although I did not draw it," she said.
Another similarly affected pensioner, Mariah Molefe, said as a result of the bungles, she was now suffering from depression.
"I really do not know how to describe how I feel," Molefe said. "I now suffer from depression. To my surprise, I could only draw out R890 this month from my account."
The Gauteng social development department public relations staff were not available for comment.
Granny takes on agency over pension
AN ELDERLY Soweto woman has laid criminal charges against the South African Social Security Agency after much of her pension was withdrawn without her knowledge.
Ester Mongadi laid the charge on Tuesday at Snake Park police station after she had discovered that a large amount of her pension was missing when she visited the Snake Park community hall pay-point.
She had only been left with R70.
"I opened a case against Sassa because R1,130 of my pension fund was withdrawn and I was only left with R70," Mongadi, 62, said.
Several other elderly people told Sowetan that money frequently went missing from their accounts and social grants.
Yesterday, a group of elderly people converged outside the Sassa centre in Dobsonville, Soweto.
They had gathered there to make queries and seek answers about monies disappearing mysteriously from their accounts.
One of these, Betty Muthulwa, said she had come to the centre after enquiries about her grandson's grant produced puzzling results.
To her shock, Muthulwa said she found her grandson's account empty when she went to withdraw the money. "This person from Sassa said that when I keep withdrawing from various places this 'problem' occurs," she said.
Her pension for this month was unbalanced, coming in R100 short.
"I receive a grant of R1,200, but this month I received only R1,100 and could not withdraw further.
"I also receive my grandson's grant because I am the main guardian since his mother passed on, but when I went to a local retailer I was told the money was already paid out although I did not draw it," she said.
Another similarly affected pensioner, Mariah Molefe, said as a result of the bungles, she was now suffering from depression.
"I really do not know how to describe how I feel," Molefe said. "I now suffer from depression. To my surprise, I could only draw out R890 this month from my account."
The Gauteng social development department public relations staff were not available for comment.
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