UIF clients struggling to get their grants
Department of Labour advises clients to speak to a supervisor or manager of the office if they are unsatisfied with the service.
A group of people in Mamelodi claim that they have a hard time claiming their UIF money from the local Department of Labour offices.
They said they wake up as early as 05:00 to stand in long queues every month just to be “told stories” by officials working at the office.
Stephen Motswene (61) of Nellmapius said he was asked to fill in a form he had already filled twice before.
“We don’t have money for transport. Some of us have to walk long distances in the cold and spend hours without eating anything just to enquire about our money,” said Motswene.
Motswene said he registered for his unemployment benefits this year and has only received a payout for January and nothing since.
He filled in the forms but was told that the money would be paid within three days but wouldn’t receive anything. When he went back to enquire, he was given the same form to fill in and the same three-day promise.
“All I want is money to pay my bills and feed my family,” he said.
He pleaded with the department to assist them urgently.
Other men standing in the long queue complained that they lost their jobs and depended on the UIF payout to feed their families and pay rent money.
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Kenneth Thobane (40), whose landlord took his belongings for failure to pay rent money, said the company he worked for for 10 years closed down in November last year.
He said he went to the labour offices in Mamelodi and applied for UIF and received his payments in February and March and nothing again since then but “lots of stories”.
“The officials promised that money will be deposited in my account within 10 days but nothing,” said Thobane.
Mishack Magakwe, a spokesperson for the department in Gauteng, advised clients to speak to the supervisor or manager of that particular office if they are not satisfied with the service.
He said they will investigate the allegations against the Mamelodi office.
“The turnaround time for payment is 10 days, not three,” said Magakwe.
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He added the labour centre had a backlog due to IT system challenges, load shedding and water shortages experienced in April and May 2022 but are currently working on eliminating it
“We shall be up to date by the end of this week,” said Magakwe adding that the pay cycle was 30-days.
“This means if a client is paid today, the next signing date will be after 30 days.
“Furthermore clients are reminded that benefits are for a maximum period of 365 days depending on the available credit. The benefits will drop to 20% after 7 or 8 months towards the end of the payment cycle.”
The Department of Labour advised the clients to send their complaints to Gpcustomercare@labour.gov.za.
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