PE sues handicapped

2003-06-08 21:30

Debbie Sauer

Port Elizabeth - The Nelson Mandela metropolitan municipality is suing a 67-year-old handicapped pensioner for more than R10 000 after giving her the money and then demanding it back. She paid off her artificial legs with the money.

"It was a huge shock. I have never received a summons in my life.

I have always tried to lead a good life and have never clashed with the law," said Millicent Lewis, 67, a retired social worker from Schauderville, on Sunday.

When visiting the municipality on January, Lewis was told that her account had been credited by more than R10 000.

She was under the impression that she owed the council about R2 000, but when she queried this, municipal officials assured her that there was no mistake.

She then consulted a lawyer at Legalwise to make sure that the money was due to her.

"One of our lawyers made an enquiry at the municipality. The municipality was sure that the money belonged to Ms Lewis," said Thabo Pauw of Legalwise.

Just before the learnt about the windfall, Lewis decided to buy artificial legs. When she received the money in February, she paid off part of the debt she incurred for the legs. She is a diabetic and lost her legs through the disease.

A month later, an official of the municipality informed her that she had to pay back the money in four instalments.

"I was satisfied with my pension. I did not even know about the money until the municipality informed me," Lewis said.

Nobody at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan municipality was available for comment

- Die Burger