Deputy minister says sorry to granny

Sorry, but your case will help others, say deputy minister Nzuza to woman who had no ID for 12 years

Granny Mphephu Johanna Manganyi now given smartcard

Benson Ntlemo

Home affairs deputy minister Njabulo Nzuza has apologized on behalf of government to a granny, 68, who had been deprived of an ID for the last 12 years.

Mphephu Johanna Manganyi, 68, has not received any government grant nor was she able to access her husband’s pension after he passed on 12 years ago as she had no ID.

But her problem was solved on Monday after the intervention of MP Faith Muthambi who heads the portfolio committee on cooperative governance and traditional affairs in parliament.

Nzuza handed the smartcard to the woman at her home in Dakari Village in the Collins Chabane Local municipality.

Handing the ID, Nzuza said: “We are sorry that this problem took so long. It was not supposed to be so. But your case will assist other people as we want to make sure that all similar cases are resolved.”

Nzuza said after her ID was activated, she will also be able to access other benefits like receiving elderly persons grants.

“We are sorry that it took so long to restore your dignity, “he said. He also brought her some groceries.

What led to the solution of the problem was when Muthambi posted on Facebook about a local resident Eric Joweni who diligently worked with a spade to fix the bad road in the area.

Then another local resident Edward Chauke also wrote on Facebook that there is another serious case, the plight of the local woman who had no ID.

“I was surprised that she had gone to all the home affairs offices in the area without being helped. Our government is not meant to work like that. I contacted the parliamentary chief whip on home affairs Musa Chabane and within two weeks we had resolved the problem that had been troubling the woman for 12 years, “said Muthambi.

Muthambi said the woman was a regular to home affairs offices in Vuwani, Malamulele and Sibasa but they did not help her.

“She could not apply for a grant nor to apply for an RDP house and neither did she vote. This means her dignity was taken away from her, “she said.

Chauke also said he was touched by her plight. “I am not blaming any officials for what happened to her. Maybe it was not meant to be.”

Manganyi praised Muthambi and Chauke for helping her.

“May you help not only me but other people in similar situations, “she said adding that she was thanking God.

Vhembe District Municipality mayor Dowelani Nenguda thanked all the people who were involved in assisting the woman.

He also thanked the deputy minister. “You are a national figure who is responsible for the whole country and I am grateful to you for coming to Vhembe,” Nenguda told Nzuza. The event was conducted under strict lockdown conditions with control by the police.