Calls to increase the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) old-age grant to R5,000 have sparked national debate. Many pensioners struggle to make ends meet in today’s challenging economic climate. On Wednesday, the Department of Social Development addressed Parliament’s portfolio committee, acknowledging the urgent need for financial relief but highlighting significant budgetary limitations.
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Public Pressure Mounts for a SASSA Grant Increase
The current old-age grant stands at R2 310 per month for individuals aged 60 to 74. R2 330 for those aged 75 and older. These amounts are expected to increase by just R10 in October 2025. However, many believe these increases are insufficient, especially amid escalating food prices, rising utility bills, and rental costs.
Social development advocate Riyad Isaac presented a passionate plea to Parliament. “R2 300 is not nearly enough for anyone to survive on,” Isaac said. “Our elderly are the backbone of this country, and we owe them dignity and care. Many pensioners today are not recipients of formal pensions and are forced to rely solely on this grant.”
He went on to say that many seniors, especially in rural and underdeveloped areas, face food insecurity and often rely on food parcels or community donations just to survive. “If we look beyond race and status, we see vulnerable people who have built this nation, now abandoned in poverty,” he added.
Government: ‘Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place’
Dr Maureen Mogotsi, acting chief director in the Department of Social Development, expressed sympathy for pensioners but warned that an increase to R5 000 per beneficiary is financially unfeasible at this time.
She explained that social grants already account for over R284.7 billion in the national budget for the 2025/26 financial year. Of this, 4.1 million elderly South Africans receive the old-age grant, while 8.5 million continue to benefit from the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant.
“If we were to double the pensioners’ grant to R5 000, it would cost the government an additional R246 billion, which would nearly double the current social grant budget,” Mogotsi stated. “We are truly between a rock and a hard place.”
Prioritisation of SASSA Grants: A Difficult Balancing Act
Mogotsi noted that the old-age pension is already the highest of all social grants, even exceeding the Upper Bound Poverty Line. In contrast, other grants, like the Child Support Grant, remain below the food poverty line, despite child poverty being more widespread than adult poverty.
“With limited resources, we must ask ourselves: who do we help first? Pensioners? Children? The unemployed?” she said. “We simply cannot meet all demands, despite our best intentions.”
The Bigger Picture: Ageing Population and Poverty
According to 2023 statistics, there were approximately 5.5 million people aged 60 and older in South Africa, with a disproportionate number being women. This demographic is growing rapidly, placing further strain on an already overburdened welfare system.
The Western Cape leads the country with the highest percentage of elderly residents, at 10.8% of the provincial population. These figures underscore the growing urgency for sustainable retirement solutions in a nation grappling with high unemployment and economic stagnation.
Possible Compromise: Incremental Increases?
While a jump to R5,000 may be out of reach, Isaac suggested that a R500 incremental increase could offer some short-term relief and be a feasible starting point. This proposal has gained traction among both social justice activists and some lawmakers, though it remains unclear whether the Treasury will entertain such an adjustment in the upcoming Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS).
As the cost of living in South Africa continues to rise, pensioners remain one of the most vulnerable groups in society. While the government acknowledges the need for better support, budgetary constraints present a major hurdle. Whether the state will find a middle ground to offer relief remains to be seen. For now, millions of elderly South Africans will have to survive on a grant amount many argue is well below the threshold for a life of dignity.
