Pensioners face registration nightmare

Pensioners face registration nightmare

THE re-registration of pensioners is turning out to be a nightmare for the elderly – they are having to wait for hours for clerks from United Africa Paymasters to show up and register them.

In Windhoek, elderly people gathered at the Senior Park retirement home at 08h00 on Monday, but it was 10h00 before any clerks even pitched up. Those who could not be registered were given numbers written on a piece of paper and told to come back at 07h00 yesterday.But, it was the same story yesterday.Only this time the clerks turned up even later.While the hall of the old-age home was filled to capacity with people congregating from as early as 06h00, they had to wait until 11h30 before employees of United Africa Paymasters turned up.”These are people who do what they want to do without any consideration towards the elderly who are so dependent on the pension that they are just taking all of this abuse because if they are not registered, they will not receive any money and then they are not able to survive,” said an angry pensioner who had been waiting since 07h30.”United Africa Paymasters has no respect for the elderly and the manner in which this whole process in being handled is a disgrace,” said another.”Not even my dog stands around for hours without food and water.”They pointed out that queuing for hours was very uncomfortable for elderly people, many of whom suffer from diseases like diabetes and cannot go without frequent, small meals.Some pensioners suggested that a registration system similar to the one used for driver’s licences should be implemented.They said the equipment used by UAP appeared to be substandard – the computer overheated and had to be switched off periodically, further delaying the registration process.The situation was better at the Oude Rust Oord in Windhoek, where UAP clerks were punctual and started registering people immediately.”They really surprised us when we came to the hall just after 08h00 and they were already there setting up,” said a pensioner.Gerry Munyama, General Manager of the United Africa Group, blamed the delays at Senior Park on logistical problems.About 180 000 pensioners throughout the country have to be registered before the end of February.In Windhoek there are four registration points.The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare needs to ensure that all pensioners and other beneficiaries of State grants are registered.Re-registration is done every three years to ensure that the beneficiaries are still alive.People who do not re-register will be assumed to have died and will no longer receive their pensions.Registration ends on February 28.Those who could not be registered were given numbers written on a piece of paper and told to come back at 07h00 yesterday.But, it was the same story yesterday.Only this time the clerks turned up even later.While the hall of the old-age home was filled to capacity with people congregating from as early as 06h00, they had to wait until 11h30 before employees of United Africa Paymasters turned up.”These are people who do what they want to do without any consideration towards the elderly who are so dependent on the pension that they are just taking all of this abuse because if they are not registered, they will not receive any money and then they are not able to survive,” said an angry pensioner who had been waiting since 07h30.”United Africa Paymasters has no respect for the elderly and the manner in which this whole process in being handled is a disgrace,” said another.”Not even my dog stands around for hours without food and water.”They pointed out that queuing for hours was very uncomfortable for elderly people, many of whom suffer from diseases like diabetes and cannot go without frequent, small meals.Some pensioners suggested that a registration system similar to the one used for driver’s licences should be implemented.They said the equipment used by UAP appeared to be substandard – the computer overheated and had to be switched off periodically, further delaying the registration process.The situation was better at the Oude Rust Oord in Windhoek, where UAP clerks were punctual and started registering people immediately.”They really surprised us when we came to the hall just after 08h00 and they were already there setting up,” said a pensioner.Gerry Munyama, General Manager of the United Africa Group, blamed the delays at Senior Park on logistical problems.About 180 000 pensioners throughout the country have to be registered before the end of February.In Windhoek there are four registration points.The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare needs to ensure that all pensioners and other beneficiaries of State grants are registered.Re-registration is done every three years to ensure that the beneficiaries are still alive.People who do not re-register will be assumed to have died and will no longer receive their pensions.Registration ends on February 28.

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