The Mahlangu Family from Gamothle village in North West Presented by Florence and Sibusiso Mahlangu

Sibusiso is eight years old Sibusiso was born on 29 August 1994 He used to get the CSG but it was stopped when he turned seven in 2001 He is now 8 years and 9 months. When his mother applied for the extended CSG in April 2003, he was 8 years and 7 months.

The family lives on R1000/month Florence earns R1000 per month as a domestic worker The whole family of 5 lives off this money Basic food and toiletries cost R300 to R400 per month School fees for the eldest daughter cost the family R225 per month. She attends a school for disabled children. Transport to work costs Florence R116 per month Transport to and from the social development offices costs R17 each time

Saving money When the electricity metre is running low, the family cooks outside on a fire and switches the fridge off. At the end of the month the fridge is empty so there is not much that needs to be kept cold When all the fees (R1900/year) for the special disability school are paid Florence intends to start paying off the school fees for her two youngest children for the 2003 school year.

The extended CSG hits the airwaves Florence heard about the extended CSG and the CDG on Radio Inkhwenkhwezi in April ACESS spokesperson was doing a radio talk to spread information on the child grants, who qualifies and how to get them. Florence heard that the CSG had been extended to all children under 9 and that Sibusiso qualified for the grant.

Florence applies for the CSG Florence travelled to the social development offices with all the necessary documents. The official said that 8 year old Sibusiso did not qualify because ”children born in 1994 do not qualify”. Florence said that she had heard on the radio that the CSG was extended to children under 9 But the official said that they were only registering children born in 1995.

Florence approaches ACESS for help Florence called ACESS for assistance Florence’s story was published in Case Alert and distributed to the media SABC TV News picked up the story and it appeared on the news on 17 April 2003 SABC contacted the Nat. Dept Social Development for comment and was told on air that children under 9 do qualify

The North West Government intervenes The Provincial Department for Social Development sent a fax confirming that Florence does qualify ACESS informed Florence of the Department’s intervention and Florence returned to the social development offices to try again.

The office adopts a new policy Florence was then told a new story by the officials The policy was now to register children who were born in 1994, but only if they were born between January and August Sibusiso just made it has his birthday is on 29 August 1994.

Florence can expect the first payment in 3 months time The first payment plus 2 months backpay will probably only come through in August Then Sibosiso will turn 9 and the grant will be terminated again. Florence will have to reapply in April 2004.

The phased in approach: wasting money, time and children’s well- being. R160 for three months = R480 Transport to get the grant amounted to approximately R51 An NGO had to intervene and incurred costs in doing so The North West Head Office had to directly intervene The National Broadcaster, SABC TV News carried the story This case was thoroughly walked through the system by a number of people – it received all possible attention and Florence knew her rights and didn’t give up

Florence applies for the CDG Florence attempts to apply for the CDG (R700/month) to pay her disabled daughter’s school fees (R1900 per year) and help feed the family. She is told that she doesn’t qualify because her daugther is in a special school and “can walk, go to school, and think for herself”. An official informs Florence she can apply for a Thabo Mbeki bursary for disabled children and she is given a DPSA contact number. Mr Mathews, the Co-ordinator for DPSA has promised to keep trying.