Almost 16,000 Old Age Grant beneficiaries have been temporarily suspended from Namibia's social grants system after their names could not be verified in the National Population Registry System.

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, together with the Ministry of Finance, said the affected beneficiaries are part of the 209,226 people currently receiving Old Age Grants nationwide.

The suspensions were implemented after the beneficiaries' names could not be located in the National Population Registry System during a verification exercise.

The Ministry of Finance stated that the social grant system, like other social protection schemes, necessitates ongoing verification of beneficiaries to confirm eligibility and ensure accurate grant payments.

Beneficiaries affected by the suspension have been urged to visit their nearest Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare regional or constituency office as soon as possible. 

They will be required to present supporting documents, such as a national identity card or birth certificate, to verify their details.

Once verified, the beneficiaries' grants will be reinstated in the next payment cycle. 

The government said those whose grants are restored will also receive back payments covering the period during which their benefits were suspended.

The ministries stressed that the exercise aims to protect eligible beneficiaries' social protection benefits. 

Instead, they said the verification process is necessary to safeguard public funds, ensure grants reach their intended recipients, and uphold principles of transparency and accountability in government.