Dilemma of ‘dead’ Durban North man
A “dead” man came second in the great grandmaster category of the Dusi Canoe Marathon – well, that is what home affairs would have us believe.
Johannes “Jan” Meyer achieved this feat in spite of having died of natural causes in June last year, according to a death certificate issued by the department.
“It says I died in Sasolburg. I’ve never even been there,” said the Durban North sextuagenarian who has tried endlessly to have his mortality status rectified ever since an insurance company picked up on his “death” and stopped paying his annuities. But it is all in vain. He appeared on national television with Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba, who said it would be sorted out, but endless e-mails and visits to the Umgeni Road offices have not yet brought Meyer back to life.
While many people will see the funny side of a dead man walking (and paddling), it’s no joke to Meyer as one of the insurers with whom he has a life annuity appeared to act on Home Affairs’ information that he was dead and cut off his monthly payments for a second time.
He’s worried about when he really departs this life. “What problems will my wife get?” he asked. “What about our kids?
“If I cannot prove now that I’m alive, how will they prove I was alive (from June last year until his real death).”
Meyer said Home Affairs was “playing with lives”.
The department had not replied to a request for comment