An 86-year-old ouma from Mitchells Plain is crying out for help after the social grants she and her disabled daughter, who suffers from cancer, rely on suddenly stopped.
Ouma Annie Stemmet from Eastridge takes care of her mentally and physically disabled daughter, Avril Stemmet, 60, and says the grants, which is their lifeblood, was stopped in May “for no reason”.
She says they’ve been sukkeling to survive for five months and despite their pleas to Sassa officials, no money has been forthcoming.
She says: “I care for Avril. She cannot do anything for herself. She is also bedridden because of her cancer.
“It started as ovarian cancer, but has spread to her whole body. She’s on her last. All they give is morphine.”
She says their troubles started in May when Avril, who turned 60 that month, had to move over from a disability grant to a pensioners grant.
“She had to get her pension and I always got my pension. But come May, everything just stopped. We didn’t get paid anymore.
“My son took me up and down to the Mitchells Plain and Wynberg Sassa offices. We filled in forms and affidavits, but nothing happens. I don’t know what to do anymore,” she bemoans.
Ouma Annie also suffers from high blood pressure, epileptic seizures and struggles to move around.
“Avril needs nappies. And how can I give her tablets if she doesn’t have any food to eat?
“Even if we just get a parcel of food, it will help because here’s no income.
“I feel depressed. If I were younger I’d go work for my child, but I cannot.”
PLEA FOR HELP: Annie Stemmet, 86, from Eastridge. Picture: Jack Lestrade
The ouma says her three other children give what they can, but she can’t depend on them all the time.
“I have never asked anyone anything. We are dependent on Sassa and it’s not nice.
“I always just pray and ask the Lord to send someone to give whatever they can.”
Sassa regional spokesperson, Shivani Wahab says Avril and Annie's grants were stopped and placed under investigation.
"This was due to the fact that the social grants were being deposited into a family members banking account and not the beneficiaries own accounts," she says.
She adds: "When a social grant is not collected for more than a period of 3 months, the grant will automatically lapse and be placed under investigation.
"Our records also reflect that the Procurator for Ms Anne and Avril Stemmet re-applied on their behalf on the 19 August 2019. According to the Social Assistance Act, a person applying for or receiving social assistance may appoint a procurator, by a power of attorney, to apply or receive social assistance on his or her behalf, in accordance with the prescribed requirements.
"The files of the beneficiaries were then sent back as the application forms were incomplete. SASSA can confirm that the matter has been expedited and prepared for finalization.
"Social grant payments for Ms Anne and Ms Avril Stemmet can now be expected during the November 2019 payment cycle."
Wahab says beneficiaries who are frail and unable to access the SASSA Local Office, a home visit can be arranged by contacting the nearest SASSA Office.