UNEMPLOYED single mum Zondi Maria Hlungwani (60) from Mphambo Village in Malamulele, Limpopo, can't get her UIF and Sassa grant money.
The mum said she shares her ID number with someone else.
According to the mum, the problem started in 2020 after she lost her job as a general worker at a local hardware store.
"My boss told me the store is closing and relocating. He then gave me a completed application form to submit to the Department of Labour for the UIF payment.
"But officials at the department rejected the documents, saying their system showed that my ID was shared with someone else, and I must visit Home Affairs," she said.
She said when she arrived at the Home Affairs offices in Malamulele, officials confirmed the incident.
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"The officials insisted that I had to apply for another ID that would be issued with a changed, new number, and I did it. But when I revisited them in July to collect the ID in order to apply for Sassa's old age grant. The same officials dragged me from pillar to post, saying they still needed time to process the ID application. My family is starving because of these lazy officials who are failing to do their work," she said.
Her unemployed daughter, Onica Hlungwani (33), said they had long been visiting the department, but it was all in vain.
"We are struggling and borrowing some of the money from mashonisas with the hope that we would pay back the money once she has successfully applied for the Sassa grant. But the officials at the department are just seated doing nothing," she said.
Vhembe District Home Affairs manager Zamba Maluleke said they noted the problem and are currently attending to and helping the client.