Namibian government suspends 15,825 unverified old-age pensions
via The Namibian3 min read
The Namibian government has temporarily suspended old-age grants for 15,825 beneficiaries whose names could not be verified against the National Population Registry System. This decision was announced in a joint statement by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare and the Ministry of Finance. These suspended beneficiaries represent a portion of the 209,226 pensioners currently receiving old-age grants in Namibia. The ministries stated that this verification process is part of their efforts to maintain the accuracy of the social grants beneficiary list and aligns with verification measures used in social protection schemes. Affected beneficiaries are advised to visit their nearest regional gender ministry office or constituency office with their national identification document and birth certificate to have their grants reinstated in the next payment cycle. They will also receive back payments for the period their grants were suspended. The government assured that this measure is not intended to deprive deserving individuals of social protection, but rather to protect the integrity of the social grant system and ensure public funds reach their intended recipients.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
Oceana Group has refuted reports claiming the closure of its Lucky Star cannery in South Africa, clarifying that operations have been temporarily consolidated due to fish supply shortages. The company issued a statement in response to reports suggesting that Lucky Star and Amawandle canning factories on South Africa’s West Coast would close by the end of June. Oceana stated that the headline was misleading and that operations from its Amawandle Pelagic facility at Laaiplek have been moved to its Lucky Star operations in St Helena Bay. This decision, according to Oceana, was made to protect jobs and ensure employees continue to earn an income. The company attributes the difficulties to the unavailability of fish, specifically noting that the full local South African pilchard quota has been caught, and it is struggling to source sufficient imported frozen fish. This clarification follows concerns from workers and trade unions regarding potential job losses. Oceana's procurement teams are actively working to secure enough frozen product for the next three to four months, and the consolidation will remain until sufficient fish stock is available.
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