Question:
Hi, Can you please help me. My father was a mineworker and separated from my mother, but did not divorce. He died in 2003 and my mom didn't claim the money from his provident fund and I don't have family to support me. How can I claim the money without a death certificate or any other documents? I only have his work ID card. I'm his only son who's turning 19 in November. I want to know where I can go to get help now. My mom passed away without claiming. The major problem is that I am from Lesotho and here, in SA, I tried so many offices. They told me to go where he worked. So please help me to get my father's money so that I can go back to school.
Answer:
Tsheliso,
First, you need to find out where your late father's money is. You therefore need to contact his former employer's Human Resources department, and ask them who is looking after this (unclaimed) money. Most likely, it will be with an Unclaimed Benefits Fund. You then need to contact this Fund, and ask them what you need to do, prove your claim. They will require all kinds of supporting documents, including a death certificate. You will need to get a copy of this certificate from the Department of Home Affairs in SA, or the corresponding department in Lesotho. You will then have to send all these documents through, and comply with the other requirements.
