Dear Blogger readers. Just when you thought it was safe to visit this blog again...
LOL
However, this is a VERY important birthday, celebrated on a SPECIAL date in my life.
Thandi, my house lady of the past seven years has a birthday on 4 March. This is the same day which Grant and I married many years ago. This year, it was my 53rd wedding anniversary...
BUT
more importantly it was Thandi's 60th birthday.
I had a personalized cake made for her and Estelle painted a personalized coffee mug as a gift.
A cake and coffee mug with Thandi's photo
In South Africa, when you turn 60, you qualify for the old age pension. Because you have to jump through several hoops, I helped Thandi through the process.
We started off at a commercial bank; we waited in a long queue eventually getting to the front and opened an account in Thandi's name. Then we went to the municipality to obtain a "proof of residence" for Thandi. Here we waited in a long queue before finally being served. We eventually arrived at the SASSA (South African Social Security Agency) at 1pm. Yes, again, we waited in a long queue. By 4pm we had not yet been attended to, and we told to return the next day.
Which we did...
Finally, by Thursday midday Thandi had been approved to receive her social security pension. Hallelujah!
I dropped Thandi off at her home and I returned to the farm.
That night I received a WhatsApp from Ntombi, Thandi's adult daughter:
Hi Gogo (pronounced gawgaw - Zulu for grandmother)
Thanks a lot for taking my mom back to SASSA today. She has been approved for her pension. You have given her a second chance.
HAPPY MONDAY TO YOU ALL!
Thandi is lucky to work for you and have your help in this matter. It is the same here when dealing with social services.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your support for Thandi. So much.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to Thandi. I still remember when you first hired her to assist you and she has been with you all these years. It was a special day for her (birthday and pension eligibility day) and for you (53rd wedding anniversary). May God continue blessing you dear Jo for being a blessing to others. I'm sure Thandi appreciated your helping her just as her daughter did. Hugs. xx
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful story with indelible globs of humanity. Well done. Happy birthday Thandi!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to Thandi! I am she is happy about receiving the pension, it is well deserved. Have a great day and happy week ahead.
ReplyDeleteWow you really spoiled her, that's so nice not all "white people" in South Africa act like you ! Bravo ! She was without any doubt certainly very happy ! I am feeling home here in my castle and I am not alone. Now I have reached the last chapter of my life, imagine I will be 82 in couple of months can't believe it !!
ReplyDeleteplease Tell Thandi a gawgaw in USA sends her a Happy Birthday and also tell her he is beautiful. so happy she is now going to receive her retirement. hope this doesn't nmean she will not be working with you now
ReplyDeleteSuch a nice thing to do for Thandi, helping through the process so she could get social security done and sorted. That's a lovely looking cake. I hope that Thandi enjoyed her birthday and the cake too. :)
ReplyDeleteSuch a sweet story! Happy belated birthday to Thandi, and congrats on her pension approval! 🎉 You really went the extra mile for her—what an amazing gift. That message from her daughter says it all!
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