MAVHUNGA – The 62-year-old Mr Samuel Nemadikidi, who worked for Mikropas Motor Engineering in Louis Trichardt from 1986 until February 2002, when he became unfit for work, is still hoping to receive some benefit from the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF). This hassle occurs despite the fact that the company that employed Nemadikidi then contributed to the UIF on a monthly basis.

Nemadikidi became sick and was admitted at the Siloam Hospital and transferred to the provincial hospital in Polokwane in February 2002. Doctors stated that Nemadikidi should retire from work due to his health condition and was granted ill-health retirement in February 2002. In March 2002, he applied for the Unemployment Benefit Fund at the Louis Trichardt UIF offices and went back to inquire in June 2002.

During the inquiring process, he was told that he did not make an application for Unemployment Benefits but that he had only brought a document from the Doctor. "I explained to the UIF officials that I made an application in March and that such an application was accompanied by all my documents" Nemadikidi elaborated. "To make matters worse, another official intervened in our argument and after explaining my problem to him, he looked around and found my forms on the shelves and that clearly indicated to me that my application was not forwarded to the relevant department," he said.

According to Nemadikidi, the official apologised and acknowledged that his application forms were not taken into consideration. However, he was promised that his application would be looked into. Due to his poor health, he (Nemadikidi) is unable to visit the UIF offices in Louis Trichardt, but some times inquiries are made by his wife, but she is also given fruitless promises. Since June last year, nothing had happened and the old man is still waiting in vain. According to Nemadikidi, it is difficult for him to maintain his family because as a pensioner he is unable to work. The complainant has two children, a 17-year –old who is in grade 11 and a 14-year- old grade 9 daughter to look after.

When reached for comment, Mrs Melony Coetzee of Mikropas Engineering in Louis Trichardt remarked that her offices sent letters to the Department together with duplicate papers, due to the fact that the department always misplace the original and copies thereafter. When his wife was sent, she was told that they did not have any document and that copies and all relevant documentation including a third Blue Card would have to be obtained in order to start the process over again.

Coetzee added that the department are paid a monthly salary, enabling them to clothe and feed their families, yet Mr Samuel is not receiving the same attention he deserved," she said.

Mirror visited the UIF offices in Louis Trichardt to get more information about the matter but was instead referred to the Provincial communication officer Mr Joe Maila, whose secretary referred Mirror back to Shirinda (an official at the UIF offices) in Louis Trichardt and our attempts to contact Shirinda proved fruitless by the time of going to press.