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Lack of ID delays spinal treatment

Source: Pretoria News, 03/07/2018

STAVROS Piagalis suffers from a herniated disk on his lower back, a
growing spinal tumour and constant pain on the hip.
However, he cannot make it past the reception desk at any hospital
because he does not have an ID.
The 64-year-old from Rietfontein has been without an ID since a house
robbery two and a half years ago. He told the Pretoria News that at
the time, robbers took his wallet, ID book, driving licence and
everything of value.
Since the robbery, the frail man has been without an ID despite
countless trips to Home Affairs and filling in numerous forms. â€œI was
born in Greece, but I have been in South Africa since I was 9. I had
my ID, but I have been running around like I never had it before. They
say I am a foreigner, but I have been here all my life.
â€œRight now my health is not good. I am sick but cannot go to any
public hospital because the first thing they want from me is an ID,
which I do not have, and without it I cannot be assisted,â€ he said.
Without an ID, Piagalis said he felt like a leaf easily taken by the
wind as he could not do anything, let alone get medical assistance or
apply for social grant.
He said: â€œI honestly don`t know what the Home Affairs in Pretoria
central wants me to do. I filled in all the forms they wanted me to. I
received a reference number a long time ago, but every time I go there
I have to fill in the same forms for the same application.â€
Having failed to get assistance, volunteers stepped in and tried to
assist him, but they too failed dismally. They took Piagalis to the
Home Affairs in Akasia with a letter from Council for the Aged
requesting that he gets assisted.
But that too did not help, and he was told to go back to the offices
in the CBD.
Home Affairs spokesperson Thabo Mokgola said the department had
instituted an investigation into the matter.

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