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Answers to your questions

Have a question you would like answered? Email us and we may answer it. The questions here are based on ones from our readers, with identifying information removed.

Please note: GroundUp is just a news agency. We are not lawyers or financial advisors, and we have nothing to do with SASSA, Home Affairs, or any other government bodies. We do our best to make the answers accurate using publicly available information, but we cannot accept any legal liability if there are errors. If you notice any discrepancies, please email info@groundup.org.za.

Why was my disability grant application declined despite submitting all required documents?

Your disability grant may have been declined because your medical form was outdated. You need to submit a recent report and appeal.

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I'm struggling to get the government pension fund to process my child’s claim without an affidavit from a relative that we don't know.

You may still claim from the GEPF by proving financial dependence and trying to involve the brother through a meeting, affidavit, or sworn statements from other relatives.

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Can I get medically boarded after I had two stents placed in my neck and an operation to allow blood flow to my brain?

Perhaps you should start by discussing medical boarding with your doctor.

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The men's health clinic where I got my ARVs closed due to USAID fund cuts. How can I get my medical records for my new doctor?

If the programme where you got your ARVs was part of a larger organisation that is still operating, contact them directly. Otherwise contact the HPCSA or the Health Department.

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Where can I replace my mother's SASSA gold card?

Postbank has suspended issuing new SASSA cards due to regulatory delays. Beneficiaries can apply at a bank of their choice to receive their grants.

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My mother died just as her application for an RDP house was approved. Will we, as her surviving children, be given the house?

You will have to go the municipality where your mother applied and ask them for their advice in this situation.

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Will my late father's assets go to my stepfather if my mother and stepfather separate?

If your mother and her new husband are married in community of property, they share an undivided and equal joint estate.

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What can I do as an immigrant with a chronic condition? I am being denied access to health care by Operation Dudula.

You should be able to report any harassment to police, but it might be advisable to first seek help from a local organisation.

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Can I apply to a TVET college with an adult matric level 3?

It should be possible for you to get into a TVET College with an adult matric level 3, and perhaps some universities.

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My partner is almost 30 and is without a birth certificate. He is struggling to access his deceased's mother's documents. Please help.

He can try gathering his own school or hospital records and seek help from legal organisations.

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