Genevieve Serra|Published
During his campaign ahead of the November 4local government elections, President Cyril Ramaphosa received a warm welcome from an 80-year-old resident of Rylands, Cape Town, who asked him to increase the Older Persons Grant. He responded that something would be done about it.
In a 54-second video clip shared on the Facebook page MyANC, Ramaphosa is seen meeting elderly residents and young people during his visit to Rylands.
The exchange was captured on video
According to the Facebook post, the woman was present in Rylands when she met the president.
An 80-year-old woman and proud ANC supporter called on the president to increase the Older Persons Grant.
Speaking jovially in Afrikaans, she hugged and kissed Ramaphosa, who was standing next to a young boy eager to meet him.
‘The pension is too little’
“Hier is my papa ANC. Ek is tagtig jaar oud,” she said.
“Ek voel geëerd, maar ek wil vir jou sê: die pensioen is te min.”
(“I feel honoured, but I want to tell you that the pension is too little.”)
Smiling, the president replied: “Nee man, ons gaan dit opmaak.”
(“No, we will increase it.”)
“Daar is niemand beter as die ANC nie,” she added. (There is none better than the ANC)
(“There is no one better than the ANC.”)
Pensioners want a higher grant
“Baie dankie,” the president replied.
She recalled seeing Ramaphosa years ago and said that he was still “oraait".
Ramaphosa visited Rylands, Delft, Mfuleni and Khayelitsha during the campaign, focusing on voting, the taxi industry and service delivery.
The appeal comes weeks after senior citizens across the country, under the banner of Pensioners of South Africa (POSA), called on the president and the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) to address their concerns about surviving on a state pension of R2 400 a month.
SASSA says it does not set grant amounts
Several peaceful protests were held across the country, with pensioners calling for the grant to be increased to R5 000 a month.
In response to their concerns at the time, SASSA Western Cape spokesperson Shivani Wahab said the agency acknowledged the plight of senior citizens but that decisions on grant increases were made by the government.
“We recognise that many beneficiaries continue to face significant economic challenges as the costs of essential goods and services, including food, transport, electricity and healthcare, continue to rise,” Wahab said.
“While SASSA is entrusted with administering and paying social grants, it is important to clarify that the agency does not determine the value of social grants or the quantum of annual increases.”
The Department of Social Development said various programmes were being run to assist elderly people experiencing financial difficulties.
The pensioners’ pleas have also reached ActionSA’s Dereleen James, a member of the National Assembly and the Portfolio Committee on Social Development. She has called for a review of the grant, including measures to protect elderly people from fraud and exploitation.