Mkhuseli Sizani
Gogo Nontuthuzelo Handile from Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) thanks Scrolla.Africa for making sure that she gets her Sassa grant.
When the gogo went to the Kenako Post Office on 3 February, the tellers told her that her money had been withdrawn at an FNB ATM. But gogo, who lives in KwaZakhele township, only uses her fingerprint and never used a bank.
The officials said gogo was defrauded of her own grant – including the three foster grants for grandchildren to a total of R5,000 – while resetting her pin.
But on Thursday, gogo received more money than that.
“I had sleepless nights and my grandchildren were reluctant to go to school without a lunch box. They kept on asking when they went back to school if there would be enough food for them. That question was like a sharp pain in my heart,” she said.
“I vomited for three days on end and I had a runny tummy. I was so stressed,” she said.
Gogo said without Scrolla.Africa she wouldn’t have received her money.
“When I told your journalist about my problem, officials called me. They took me to the post office where I was asked to fill in forms.
“On Thursday I saw R9,700 being deposited into my account. I don’t know where the other money comes from. I think it was an additional Covid-19 relief fund which I never received,” said gogo.
“Without you and my ancestors I would be dead by now because of hunger and stress.”
Tommy van Rooyen, the Sarah Baartman District manager for Sapo, said: “I’m glad she has been helped. But I’m not privileged to the decision the Post Bank makes.”
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