Pensioners across South Africa are pushing for the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) Older Persons Grant to increase from R2,400 to R5,000 a month, saying the current amount no longer reflects the cost of everyday living.
The demand has gained fresh momentum after the Pensioners of South Africa (POSA) held nationwide pickets outside SASSA offices on September 7, including in Cape Town, Johannesburg and other provinces.
The current R2,400 grant was confirmed as part of the social grant increases in March.
POSA has also built support through a Change.org online petition, which has attracted more than 33,000 signatures.
“Senior citizens don’t just support themselves, most have extended family that they help,” reads a post by one of the petition signatories.
“The pittance they getting now don’t even cover their roof, where does the food come from. Wake up SA, respect your seniors and just maybe life will start to become a little lighter for all. God bless.”
Pensioners want SASSA R5,000 Older Persons Grant
POSA was founded by Cape Town residents Chef JC Alex and his wife, Calveen Edwards, after seeing relatives struggle to make ends meet.
Alex said the campaign is about giving older South Africans enough support to live with dignity.
“We are asking for R5 000. Our senior citizens are tired of crumbs and of having to choose how they will get through the month.”
The campaign gained momentum after a July protest outside SASSA offices in Beacon Valley, Mitchells Plain.
POSA has also raised concerns about frozen grant accounts, SASSA long queues and payment delays and system failures.
The phasing-out of Gold Cards and migration to Postbank Black Cards has added to the logistical gridlock, placing further pressure on pensioners and other older beneficiaries.
Pensioners say SASSA Older Persons Grant is too low
For pensioners who depend on the grant for basic needs, even payment disruptions can have serious consequences.
Verification problems have previously led to additional payment dates being arranged for affected Old Age Grant beneficiaries.
ActionSA Western Cape chairperson Dereleen James, who is also a mayoral candidate and a member of the National Assembly Portfolio Committee on Social Development, has backed the demand.
“The concerns being raised by the Pensioners of South Africa cannot simply be dismissed as another protest.”
James said the campaign reflects a wider crisis among elderly South Africans who have contributed to their communities and, in many cases, supported entire households.
“They speak to a very real crisis facing elderly South Africans who have worked, contributed to their communities and, in many cases, supported entire households throughout their lives, yet now find themselves struggling to survive on an inadequate social grant.”
She said the SASSA Older Persons Grant is not sufficient to meet the basic cost of living, with pensioners forced to choose between essentials such as food, electricity, transport and medication.
“The current Older Persons Grant is not sufficient to meet the basic cost of living. When pensioners are forced to choose between food, electricity, transport and medication, we must acknowledge that the social-protection system is failing to provide the dignity that our Constitution envisages.”
James wants the grant reviewed against the actual cost of living and poverty threshold, along with stronger protection for pensioners against fraud, exploitation and unnecessary administrative barriers.
SASSA says Treasury must decide grant increase
SASSA says it does not have the authority to determine social grant values.
SASSA media liaison Andile Tshona said:
“In terms of the Social Assistance Act and SASSA Act of 2004, SASSA’s mandate does not extend to determining how much is paid. That competency lies with National Treasury and Sassa only implements a directive.”
SASSA Director of Marketing and Communication Shivani Wahab said any increase must go through the national budgeting process.
“Any increase must be considered by the government through the national budgeting process, led by National Treasury, and is subject to the availability of public funds and approval by Parliament.”
SASSA could not confirm whether the proposed R5,000 increase has been scheduled for consideration. The agency said pensioners’ representations would be referred to the relevant authorities.
SASSA SRD case adds to wider grant debate
The demand comes amid a wider debate about social assistance and the cost of living.
A Pretoria High Court ruling involving the R370 SASSA SRD grant ordered government to progressively increase the grant and its income eligibility threshold in line with inflation and rising living costs.
NOWinSA previously reported on the SRD court ruling and a separate judgment concerning rules involving irregular income and online-only applications.
While the SRD matter is a different case altogether, it adds to broader questions about whether social assistance levels and eligibility rules adequately reflect economic realities.
Even with inflation at 4.3%, pensioners continue to face pressure as the cost of everyday essentials, including electricity, eats into their limited income.
The immediate question is whether R2,400 can stretch far enough to cover food, electricity, transport, healthcare and other household costs.
For now, SASSA says it can implement an approved increase but cannot determine the amount. Any move to R5,000 will have to pass through the government’s budgeting and parliamentary processes.
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For the latest developments on SASSA grants, payments, and policy changes, stay up to date with the NOWinSA SASSA resource centre.
