Namibian official warns mothers against falsifying information to get grant

WINDHOEK, Aug. 14 — Namibian mothers who give false information
about their children to qualify for social grants will be forced to pay
back the money, an official said Saturday.

Orphans and vulnerable children receive 250 Namibian dollars (about 18 U.S.
dollars) per month for maintenance, foster parent, special maintenance and
vulnerability. Latest figures released in March 2017 indicate that more
than 280,000 children receive the grants. Amos Boois, an administrative
officer with the gender equality ministry told a community meeting in
Windhoek Saturday some parents, especially mothers, claim that they do not
know their children’s fathers or that the fathers are unemployed.

Others, according to Boois, do not tell the ministry that they earn more
than 1,000 Namibia dollars (about 70 U.S. dollars) just to qualify for the
grant.He said some mothers do not stay with their children, but still, they
apply for the grant. As a result of false information some mothers give,
Boois said, the gender equality ministry turns down more than 30
applications per month. He said it is a crime to pretend that fathers
are not supporting their children while it is not the case. He emphasized
that mothers who registered their children with false information and are
found guilty would have to pay the money back.-XINHUA

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