The Principal Chief of Kueneng and Mapoteng, Chief Peete Lesaoana Peete, has urged fellow chiefs to actively support elderly residents by ensuring that all pensioners report to their designated pay stations on dates set by the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Social Development.
Chief Peete made the call during a meeting of chiefs held in Bela-Bela, where he stressed the importance of traditional leaders in guiding and assisting pensioners to comply with the new pension payment requirements.
He said chiefs have a responsibility to ensure that every eligible elderly person receives their pension by helping them understand and adhere to the verification process.
The appeal follows the introduction of in-person verification by the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Social Development after it was discovered that some individuals were unlawfully collecting pension funds on behalf of deceased beneficiaries.
According to the ministry, pensioners are now required to present themselves at their respective pay points to confirm that they are alive, warning that failure to do so may result in delayed or missed payments.
The verification exercise is intended to strengthen accountability and ensure that only living and eligible pensioners continue to receive government support. Chief Peete noted that traditional leadership plays a vital role in disseminating information at village level and assisting elderly residents to understand and comply with the new measures.
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