South African pensioners issue government a stark warning over Old Age Grant
· The South African
The debate over the SASSA Old Age Grant has ignited on social media, with pensioners and their families making clear that the current R2 400 per month is no longer acceptable. Comments flooding The South African‘s Facebook page reveal a community that is frustrated, organised and ready to act, and one that is sending a direct warning to government.
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The loudest voices are not asking for small adjustments. They want a complete overhaul of what the government considers a livable pension.
Pensioners on Facebook demand far more than the current old-age grant
Many South Africans commenting on The South African‘s Facebook page feel that figure still falls short. Mark Mentor put a number on what he believes is fair.
“A living amount is R7 500 a month,” he wrote.
“If you look at other countries, they get even more. Look after the elderly.”
Esmeralda Moore was equally direct, calling for the grant to be raised to R6 500. Monica Sooful argued that between R5 000 and R6 500 would be liveable, but only for pensioners without dependants. Where two pensioners share a household, she said, that amount could sustain them provided no additional family members relied on their income.
Muzi Sibisi kept it simple: “R5 000 can do.”
Pensioners ready to take to the streets
The anger goes beyond online comments. Abel Menza captured the mood of many when he called for direct action on The South African‘s Facebook page, urging pensioners to march holding their walking sticks.
Sydney Mintoor went further, calling for a formal petition to be drafted and delivered directly to the President’s office, proposing R5 000 tax-free or R6 500 taxable as a livable monthly income.
“We as pensioners request a livable monthly income,” he wrote.
A political warning government cannot ignore
Patrick Linda put the current grant into sharp perspective on Facebook, noting that his 2016 salary was worth more than today’s R2 400 grant, which he said cannot even cover basic household essentials.
Lita Renney delivered the clearest political warning of all: “If the political parties want votes, they should consider this.”
With millions of pensioners watching, the message to government is unmistakable, and growing louder by the day.