It sounds like something out of the movies, but for Hendrick van Niekerk, of Primrose, it is very much a reality.<\/p>\n
In 2012, when Hennie, as he is known, went to open an account at a local bank, the teller informed him that there was something very wrong, \u201cShe turned her screen so that I could see it and there, in black and white, it stated I was deceased.<\/p>
\u201cI asked her: ‘Do I look dead to you?’\u201d said Hennie.<\/p>\n
After some digging, he discovered that 18 months after receiving his new identity document (ID) in 2004, another man, from Paarl, had received the same ID, same name and same ID number. All that was different was the photo.<\/p>
\u201cI have no idea how he got my ID book,\u201d Hennie, now a pensioner, said.<\/p>\n
The Paarl man had died and a death certificate was issued to the ID number, which meant, according to home affairs, Hennie was dead.<\/p>\n
\u201cI began writing to everyone I could think of, from ministers of home affairs to presidents, including former president Nelson Mandela.<\/p>\n
\u201cThough I did not receive a reply to all the letters, I received a letter from Mandela asking me to forgive him, and to assure me that he was trying his best to help.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt seemed he was hitting as many brick walls as I was trying to sort the problem out,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Hennie further claimed that no matter how many times he goes into the home affairs offices in Benoni, where he was told to go to handle the issue, no one can give him answers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey keep telling me that they are still investigating.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut how can it take this long to investigate?\u201d he said desperately.<\/p>\n
Though Hennie and his family try to stay positive and handle the situation as best they can, making light of the situation through jokes, it is no laughing matter.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t believe in being a negative person, it will not do me any good to sit at home and be depressed about the situation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
However, despite his best efforts, some situations still upset him.<\/p>\n
One such situation came when he suddenly stopped getting his pension from his former employer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI worked at the company for 23 years and when I retired I began to receive a pension.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne month, however, my pension was late.<\/p>\n
\u201cI waited a few days and realised that it wasn\u2019t coming so I called the woman who had always handled my pension to ask what was happening,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
When he said \u201chello\u201d there was no reply so unsure if she had heard him or not he greeted her again.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen she did answer she questioned why I was playing a bad joke.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I asked why, she explained that she had received all the paperwork claiming that I was dead and that she was currently working out a pay-out for my family,\u201d he said while fighting back tears.<\/p>\n
He told her to stop everything and explained the situation.<\/p>\n
Hennie deals with daily struggles, related to the death notice that hangs over his head, and cannot open accounts of any kind.<\/p>\n
And though he tries not to let these worry him, he does worry about his family\u2019s future.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat if I do die?<\/p>\n
\u201cHow will my family claim any of the pay-outs on my policy or move the house out of my name?<\/p>\n
\u201cThey will be left with nothing,\u201d he said emotionally.<\/p>\n
The GCN sent a query to home affairs in an attempt to get some clarity on the situation, however, despite receiving confirmation that they received the email, no comment was received.<\/p>\n
The GCN continues to seek comment on the matter.<\/p>\n
Other articles you may be interested in:<\/strong><\/p>\n Children to bring light to the needy\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n A sweet treat for Mother\u2019s Day<\/a><\/p>\n Have a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za<\/a><\/strong>, Leigh Hodgson (journalist)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or Puleng Sekabate\u00a0<\/span>pulengs@caxton.co.za<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n YouTube\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Or add the GCN on\u00a0<\/b><\/span>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\n Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers\u00a0<\/span>Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n