Seemingly, gone are the days when the elderly were respected and treated with the utmost importance in society.
These days many of the elderly are unfortunately taken for granted and their opinions and experience of life are not held in high esteem. Moreover, many of the elderly are manipulated and cheated, even by their very own dear ones and by some of those from the outside. There have been many incidents reported to the Laudium Sun, of the elderly being cheated, while trying to do some business in order to earn some extra money just to survive, as depending on social grants is not enough. This follows a pensioner from Bengal Street relating the ordeal he faced, with a resident from Itireleng. The pensioner had hoped to make some money and what seemed at first like a normal business transaction, later proved to be a costly affair for the pensioner. Pensioner, Ramnadan Padayachy, (71) complained to the Laudium Sun about James Sithole (34) from Itireleng, concerning the hiring out of his bakkie, last year, July 17. The business transaction turned sour and since then the pensioner has turned to the courts, but is still awaiting justice.
Ramnadan told the Laudium Sun, “The man, James approached me seeking to hire out my bakkie, which I usually hire out to people when I am not using it for my own business interests. When I hired the bakkie to him it was in good condition, but when James brought my bakkie back, it was broken, because he overloaded it with sand and stones. I am now unable to work with it, causing me to lose out on much needed additional income as the pension money I get is not enough to meet my expenses. I called James many times to fix the bakkie, which he promised to do, but he gave me the run around. Finally I went to the Small Claims Court, claiming R14 000 to fix the bakkie, in addition to costs accumulated for the Sheriff. I tried to negotiate with him to pay off the money but even that he did not honour.” Ramnadan added that he was awarded the amount claimed from James, saying “There is now a warrant for his arrest, as he failed to appear in the Pretoria Court, and has not paid the money due to me. Now even the Sheriff of the Court is looking for him. I appeal to the community to be aware of James as he is a sweet talker, who pretends to be a God fearing person. In truth I found him to have no respect for elders. He lies, cheats and steals from them. I have met other people who also told me that they had bad encounters with James, who I believe has two ID’s and is of Mozambican descent. Although James was residing in Itireleng, I heard that he has fled to Hammanskraal, but is occasionally seen working at different areas in Laudium. I appeal to anyone who knows the whereabouts of James to contact the police. I am so disheartened that even we, as pensioners, are being targeted by unscrupulous people,” Ramnadan
alleged.
