Brothers who live in Everest struggle to get stamp
Two brothers who live in the Everest Informal Settlement struggle to get by and have complained that the people who should be helping them are making it more difficult for them to make ends meet.
Braam Mulder (41), an epileptic, has been receiving treatment from the Far East Rand Hospital for years.
He has suffered from seizures since he was young and also has chronic blood circulation problem in both legs.
As a result of this, Mulder’s left leg has been septic for about eight years and is getting worse.
Mulder cannot find work and had a seizure at his last place of employment, where he worked as a security guard.
In order to apply for a disability grant, Mulder and his half-brother Francisco North (39) went to FERH last Thursday to receive a stamp required for his South Africa Social Security Agency (SASSA) documents.
The stamp is to confirm his medical condition.
On arrival, he was told that he needed to pay R35 before he can receive a stamp – money he simply does not have and should not be paying.
According to hospital management, the issue was a misunderstanding, as it was thought Mulder wanted a stamp for a doctor’s note for work.
FERH has a doctor’s consulting fee of R35 that patients need to pay before they can receive documentation.
If the patient cannot, at the time of consultation afford the fee, they can return at a later date to pay the outstanding R35.
Adele Pratt (42) from Ekurhuleni Disaster Management, who has been helping the brothers with non-perishable foods, asked hospital management for Mulder to be supplied with crutches.
He struggles to walk and is in constant pain.
The issue was then taken to Hendrik Buda, spokesman of FERH, who stated Mulder can request crutches from his doctor.
