No pension for ‘dead’ man

A RETIRED Burgersfort man who worked for the national department of agriculture prior to his retirement, has been unable to access to his monthly pension because, according to the department of home affairs, he is dead.

Thobejane David Marisane (68) said he was fighting tooth and nail with the home affairs department to list him as alive and not deceased.

He said he had received his monthly pension since December 2011, but life became difficult when the home affairs department apparently decided to declare him dead in October last year.

“The pension officers interviewed me in Polokwane on November 25 last year and later said they could not do anything unless home affairs changed my life status,” he said.

“In December last year, I went to the home affairs department in Pretoria again but received no help.

“I went back there again in June and they told me to go home as I had not made an appointment.

“Later they said the case was with the investigators.

“They took my fingerprints three times but they still send me from pillar to post,” he said.

He said he had twin children; one was a student at the University of Limpopo and the other one was at Medunsa.

“They need money for school fees. I’m now relying on my wife’s salary,” Marisane said.

Home affairs provincial manager, Florah Motsitsi, said Marisane could visit her office in Polokwane and she would ensure he received assistance.