South African pensioners demand SASSA grant increase to R5,000

Pensioners in South Africa are demanding that the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) increase the Older Persons Grant from R2,400 to R5,000 per month. Protesters argue the current amount is insufficient to cover basic living costs and the needs of extended families.

The Pensioners of South Africa (POSA) organized nationwide pickets in cities including Cape Town and Johannesburg to support the cause. The movement has also gained traction through an online petition that has collected over 33,000 signatures.

In addition to the demand for higher payments, campaigners have raised concerns regarding SASSA’s logistical issues, including long queues, payment delays, system failures, and frozen accounts. The transition from Gold Cards to Postbank Black Cards has also been cited as a source of difficulty for beneficiaries.