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470 suspects investigated for disability grant fraud in Kavango – Gender ministry

470 suspects investigated for disability grant fraud in Kavango – Gender ministry

The Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication, and Social Welfare confirmed that 470 individuals were suspected to be involved in disability grant fraud in the Kavango East and West Regions.

This prompted the Namibian Police to advise the ministry to discontinue the benefits to these individuals with immediate effect.

Acting Executive Director at the ministry, Martha Mbombo said that following the progress made by the Namibian Police concerning the investigation of the matter, they affirmed that 71 out of the 470 assessed beneficiaries genuinely qualified for the disability grant.

“This affirmation process included intensive investigation, assessment, and medical examination, therefore it is against the foregoing background, we hereby notify the public and affected beneficiaries that the suspension on the verified 71 beneficiaries has been lifted and we are busy to re-activate the grant accounts of these beneficiaries,” she added.

She further confirmed that a list comprising the names of the 71 will be placed on the notice board of various government buildings in the Regions. “The affected individuals are requested to visit the pension office of the original application or the nearest pension office with their documents, for verification of life and their particulars,” she added.

Finally, Mbombo said the investigation is still ongoing and that the individuals duly identified as legitimate grant beneficiaries, will be re-activated as and when advised by the Namibian Police.


 

About The Author

Mandisa Rasmeni

Mandisa Rasmeni has worked as reporter at the Economist for the past five years, first on the entertainment beat but now focussing more on community, social and health reporting. She is a born writer and she believes education is the greatest equalizer. She received her degree in Journalism at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) in June 2021. . She is the epitome of perseverance, having started as the newspaper's receptionist in 2013.