WARD 97 councillor André Beetge has clarified how the municipality’s senior citizens’ voucher system works following complaints from community members after some pensioners did not receive vouchers.

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Beetge said the current system needs to be understood within the context of how the municipality previously supported senior citizens.

In earlier years, he said, ward-based senior citizens’ events were hosted by the municipality and typically included a meal, limited entertainment and a food parcel.

“The food parcels were, however, not always necessarily aligned with the nutritional needs of older residents,” said Beetge.

He said these events were often organised at short notice, with service providers sometimes appointed as late as a day before the event, leading to ongoing operational failures.

“This led to repeated operational problems, including but not limited to hall booking clashes, substandard food, transport challenges for elderly attendees, long queues and overcrowding, scuffles caused by people arriving without invitations, sometimes bussed-in from other wards, inflated costs, procurement irregularities, and allegations of corruption,” he said.

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According to Beetge, the situation in some wards became unsafe.

“In some wards, these events deteriorated into unsafe and chaotic situations. Covid-19 was arguably the final factor that made this model untenable.”

He said the municipality subsequently introduced a voucher-based system following lessons learnt during the pandemic.

“While not without flaws, this approach not only reduced the pressure associated with the one-day event, but shifted responsibility to ward councillors, enabling better local control, oversight and accountability,” said Beetge.

Beetge explained that each ward is allocated only 500 vouchers, regardless of size or demographics, and that demand almost always exceeds supply.

“Ward 97 is no exception, and with the addition of an exclusive previously disadvantaged voting station, come the fast-approaching elections, which are set to increase,” he said.

He added that the ward continues to experience an influx of elderly residents from across the country, many living in properties owned or rented by NGOs and NPOs.

“This influx far exceeds the ward’s official population growth rate of between 1.2% and 1.6%,” said Beetge.

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Addressing complaints from pensioners who did not receive vouchers, Beetge said all recipients must be verified as bona fide residents of the ward.

“Because vouchers are issued ward-specific, the first requirement is that recipients must be bona fide residents of the ward. Verification is done using the Independent Electoral Commission’s voters’ roll,” he said.

He added that the verification process helps prevent abuse of the system.

“This process also helps prevent ‘double dipping’, where individuals attempt to receive vouchers from multiple wards,” he said.

Beetge said his office has encountered numerous verification challenges, including “duplicate submissions across different lists, details of deceased persons, incorrect ID numbers or contact details, family members or friends residing in other wards or provinces, use of holiday homes as primary addresses, and open or vacant stands listed as residential addresses”.

He added that while residents over the age of 60 may qualify to be considered, vouchers are not guaranteed.

“While residents over the age of 60 may qualify to be considered, no individual has an automatic entitlement to a voucher,” he said.

Beetge said the municipality allows an extended distribution period to ensure fairness and accountability.

“There is also no requirement that vouchers must be distributed immediately upon receipt. The municipality allows an extended distribution window to ensure proper verification in an attempt to prioritise those who are most vulnerable.”

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