Embassies say unaware of ‘double pension receivers’

ALTHOUGH Government suspects that some Namibians receive a state pension not only from Namibia but also from South Africa, the relevant diplomatic mission is unaware of such cases.

Labour Minister Alpheus Naruseb said in the National Assembly last week that his Ministry had become aware of such cases. He also alleged that some German-speaking people in Namibia were receiving pensions from both countries.”We will do something about that soon,” Naruseb said.The South African High Commission in Windhoek says no double pension beneficiaries have been brought to their attention, as well.”We are unaware of such cases,” Acting South African High Commissioner Pieter Coetzee told The Namibian.”We also have not been approached by the Namibian Government on that matter.Should Namibia request some information on this issue, this will surely be channelled via the Namibian High Commission in Pretoria to the South African government,” Coetzee said.The German Embassy in Windhoek has also not been approached yet by Namibian authorities.”We don’t know of such cases,” said Charge d’Affaires Ute Koenig, when approached for comment.”There are German-speaking citizens living in Namibia having a permanent residence permit and drawing pension money from Germany, but they have paid into that pension scheme each month for many years and are entitled to benefit from it,” Koenig pointed out.He also alleged that some German-speaking people in Namibia were receiving pensions from both countries.”We will do something about that soon,” Naruseb said.The South African High Commission in Windhoek says no double pension beneficiaries have been brought to their attention, as well.”We are unaware of such cases,” Acting South African High Commissioner Pieter Coetzee told The Namibian.”We also have not been approached by the Namibian Government on that matter.Should Namibia request some information on this issue, this will surely be channelled via the Namibian High Commission in Pretoria to the South African government,” Coetzee said.The German Embassy in Windhoek has also not been approached yet by Namibian authorities.”We don’t know of such cases,” said Charge d’Affaires Ute Koenig, when approached for comment.”There are German-speaking citizens living in Namibia having a permanent residence permit and drawing pension money from Germany, but they have paid into that pension scheme each month for many years and are entitled to benefit from it,” Koenig pointed out.