Home Affairs says Mukatshelwa Rathogwa was born in 1949, instead of 1935. This makes her three years older than her first-born son, who was born in 1952!

This also makes her younger than her younger sisters who were born in 1941 and 1943 respectively! Mukatshelwa wants Home Affairs to rectify the mistake but she has been fighting a losing battle since 1997. The old lady, who stays at Mphego Village, east of Thohoyandou, approached Mirror for help.

“You are my last hope, because I have seen many community members getting assistance through your intervention,” said a weeping Ms Rathogwa.

To back up her claim, Mukatshelwa says there were five children in her family. The first-born son, Gideon, was born in 1922, followed by Nyawaisedza, who was born in 1930. She said she was the third-born daughter and she was born in 1935. Her younger sisters, Nyadzani and Ndifhedzani, were born in 1941 and 1943 respectively.

Mukatshelwa says she went to the Makwarela Home Affairs office to have her problem sorted out, to no avail. She said the problem started when she replaced her old Venda ID with a new bar-coded one. “If I die now, I will die a disappointed person because Home Affairs failed me. I have provided all the required documents, including letters from the headman and police affidavits but the mistake has never been rectified. I went there several times and I no longer have money to travel there time and again as if I am working there.”

Sadly, Mukatshelo qualifies for an old-age grant but she doesn’t get the money because of the ID problem. “Look, all my younger sisters from the same mother are benefiting from the old age grant but I get nothing because of somebody who is not doing his job. How long must I suffer while I go to bed on an empty stomach? Home Affairs must fix their mistake because I also want to enjoy life like other senior citizens of this country.”

Mukatshelwa continued angrily: “Does Home Affairs think I was only three years old when I gave birth to my first-born son, Avhathakhei, in 1952? I went to them with my first-born son and my younger sisters, both with their IDs, but nothing happened? I am now fed up.”

A senior official of the Department of Home Affairs, Mmboneni Mphigalale invited Mukatshelwa to come to his office. “I will personally interview her and see how we can assist her. She will definitely have her problem sorted out as a matter of urgency, because efficient service delivery is our priority.”