By Zwelethu Dlamini | 2020-11-01
Mystery surrounds the disappearance of E867 000 from a former mineworker’s account at TEBA.
Ex-miner Musa Dlamini*(58) is still reeling from shock after the disappearance of his huge pay-out from the mines, which was made through TEBA in March this year.
In fact, the elderly man is currently stressed and struggling to cope over the disappointment, which has resulted in him taking medication to keep him calm.
He is financially stressed with a negative balance in his account, and can barely raise funds to visit the nearest hospital in Nhlangano despite his former employer having deposited over E870 000 into his TEBA account in respect of his gratuity and pension fund in March.
TEBA is contracted by various occupational health, pension and provident fund administrators to, on their behalf, trace and provide support to claimants of various unclaimed benefits. The company promises mineworkers that it is committed to making sure that they are safe from benefit claims fraud.
“We will provide you or your family with support to complete the necessary forms and identify the necessary supporting documentation that should accompany your benefits claim.
“Please be aware of and report people who say they can help you claim your benefits, but who charge you for their services. TEBA does not charge beneficiaries. We are paid by the funds to which we are contracted,” states the company on its website.
Provides
The company also states that it provides financial services to its clients similar to those of banks, as it is an authorised agent for UBank.
“As an authorised UBank agent, TEBA has put a number of Ubank branches in place in TEBA offices that are close to mineworkers’ homes or places of work. At these TEBA offices, you can conveniently access the following services: Cash withdrawal in Rands or foreign currencies, alternative account options for your families cash deposits.
“TEBA is also permitted to open bank accounts for beneficiary payments and can provide a Paymaster function on request,” states TEBA on their website.
However, this is not the same story that Dlamini*can tell about his experience with the company, as his employer and/ or provident fund administrator is believed to have contracted TEBA to, on their behalf, trace and provide support to him for his claim.
Dlamini said out of the fortune from his over 32 years as a mineworker, he only withdrew E10 000 and nearly collapsed when he found his account with only 23 cents the next time he wanted to make a second withdrawal at/or around May 2020.
Till this day, Dlamini is still awaiting a call from either TEBA or the bank, informing him that the investigation on the whereabouts of his monies was complete and he can now be able to go and make another withdrawal.
Unfortunately, for Dlamini both entities are neither regulated by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) nor the Central Bank of Eswatini, which are entities regulating financial service providers in the country, which means he would have to travel to South Africa to get assistance from the regulator.
Officials from both Central Bank of Eswatini and FSRA confirmed that TEBA was not regulated by any of them, hence could not be drawn for comment on the matter.
Making things worse is the requirement for a COVID-19 test before crossing the border, as he cannot afford the E850 needed for the test.
“I was relieved of my duties from the mine on medical grounds, and this was the time borders were about to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The money was deposited into my account, while I was in South Africa and it reflected on my mobile phone. I came back home and TEBA assisted me to withdraw E10 000 and the balance remained at E867 000. I used the cash to fix a tractor and soon I needed to make another withdrawal, so I went back to TEBA for their assistance to withdraw, only to be told that the system indicated that I had insufficient funds. When they checked the balance, they said I only had 23 cents, and I nearly suffered from a heart attack,” he said.
The elderly man said he was calmed down by one of the officials in Nhlangano, who told him that he should not lose hope as they were going to check what the problem was with his account, as it could have been frozen.
“The official said the investigations took a few days and latest could be three weeks, and I was hoping to get the money by June, but till this day they have been singing the same song, telling me that the investigation is still on-going.
“I feel it is dragging, considering the period and that I have nothing in my account and still have to cater for my family and my health since I cannot even afford medication, as some is not available in hospital. I last took them in March and I’m ailing,” he said.
Dlamini stated that his plans to establish a business and in order to send his children to tertiary institutions were fading away, as his monies were not forthcoming, while the sickness was also not treated due to the lack of funds.
Funds
He wondered why the bank was taking so long to trace his funds, or at least provide him with a portion of his funds as he believes the monies are insured. TEBA Eswatini Country Director Sifiso Mndzebele confirmed knowledge of Dlamini’s matter, saying it was still being investigated.
“Mr Dlamini’s issue was actually picked up by TEBA through our Nhlangano Office, and was escalated to Ubank, as being the bank in question. This matter is still under investigation and the parties concerned are updated on progress,” said the country director.
Asked how TEBA was involved in the matter, Mndzebele said his organisation only makes withdrawals from individual accounts on request by the account holder to the account bearer. “The anomaly was picked up because the account had an insufficient balance to what he wanted to withdraw,” he said.
The ministry of labour and social security referred questions to the Swaziland Migrant Mineworkers Association (SWAMMIWA).
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