Money

Alex home cares for 13 kids

AN ALEXANDRA woman who has been providing a place of safety for homeless children is furious after she was paid only R4 253 in December, instead of the R20 000 she believes is owed her.

Matshidiso Seruwe – owner and the founder of Legae La Bana Care Centre, which provides a place of safety for vulnerable children in Alexandra – says she has not been fairly paid the money due to her by the Department of Social Development.

She says the money owed to her is the accumulation of unpaid Temporary Safety Care Grants for 13 children she is accommodating. For each child she is entitled to claim R16.50 a day. The amount was increased because two of the children died, with added burial costs.

“I had to use my own money to bury those kids. Now when I ask to be reimbursed, it’s a problem. I nearly closed down last year due to these financial challenges,” she said.

She has acquired the services of a lawyer through the Children’s Court at the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court, and hopes her matter will be processed speedily and she will be paid correctly.

Seruwe said her organisation is registered, she meets all the criteria and complies with the requirements stipulated for those who take children into care as noncompliance can be an impediment to getting their grants paid.

“I’m looking at the possibility of helping her get the money once I have studied all relevant documentation,” said her legal representative, Norman Khumalo.

He was hired by the department to investigate several youth and children’s homes in Joburg and has confirmed that Seruwe’s home is fit to host children.

“Sometimes you would find there are no homes or children in care, yet someone is claiming money from the department,” he said.

However, an inside source at the department with intimate knowledge of Seruwe’s case has a different view. She said Seruwe was not claiming the money monthly as she was supposed to by law, and would instead wait to make a larger claim.

“That’s totally against our finance policy. I tried to motivate for the release of her money, but I failed,” she said, adding that the matter had been passed to director level.

Seruwe denies contravening policy and says the blame is being shifted.

Contacted for comment, Mbangwa Xaba, on behalf of Social Development, said they were aware of Seruwe’s case and were hoping to pay her soon. – Health-e News

‘I nearly closed down last year due to financial challenges’