Daily Sun (November 29 2013) - LEBOGANG MOGANE was born with only six fingers and six toes . . .But Sassa doesn't think she's disabled - even though it's plain to see she is! AMAZINGLY, THEY HAVE REFUSED HER A DISABILITY GRANT FOR FIVE YEARS! Lebogang, from Kliptown in Soweto, has only three fingers on each hand and three toes on each foot. There are gaps where the missing fingers and toes never grew.
The 22-year-old lives with her mum, Grace (67), who is partially blind. Her father died in 2011. Lebogang told Daily Sun she had tried to get jobs but it was difficult because of her disability and her lack of matric.
"I worked as a cleaner but they made me carry heavy things and I can't hold a bucket properly, so I had to leave," she said.
She went to Missouri Avenue Secondary School in Eldorado Park, where she completed Grade 10 in 2008, but did not go back the following year.
"I found it difficult to carry on at school. They don't cater for disabled people," said Lebogang.
She and her mother survive on Grace's pension grant of R1 270 a month and help they receive from their Good Samaritan neighbour, Thembi Madela (53).
It was Thembi who called Daily Sun to explain Lebogang's plight.
Said Thembi: "I have been going with Lebogang to the Sassa offices in Maponya mall and Zola, as her mother can't see very well.
"But they told Lebogang she doesn't qualify.
"I hate to see them live like this. "I help with groceries and cash where I can."
Grace told Daily Sun that she would appreciate it if her daughter could be helped.
We put the situation to Gauteng Sassa spokesman Steve Mabona.
He told us: "We have been in touch with the family and booked Lebogang in for another medical examination.
"In the event that the outcome is negative, Sassa officials will assist her to have it reconsidered and appeal to an independent tribunal through the minister of social development."
He said in the meantime he would give the family a social relief distress voucher for food worth R1 270.
See the Daily Sun mobi site for more on this and other stories....
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