‘That increase is more realistic’: South Africans back the proposed SASSA old-age grant amount

Not every South African is holding out for a dramatic jump in the SASSA old-age grant. Some say the amount currently on the table is the one most likely to happen.

The comments followed The South African’s report on a push for Parliament to support raising the Older Persons Grant to R3 000 a month.

‘More realistic’

On The South African’s Facebook page, Detlef Weber said the proposed figure strikes the right balance. “That increase is more realistic…” he wrote.

His comment drew a reply and several reactions, with some users agreeing that a smaller, achievable increase is better than a bigger promise that never arrives.

Weber’s view stands apart from many others in the thread, where commenters called for the SASSA old-age grant to rise to R5 000, R6 000, or tomatch the national minimum wage.

Every rand counts in the grant

Tania Steenkamp shared a similar outlook. “R600 is better than nothing. Would be a great addition,” she wrote.

For pensioners who rely on the grant alone, an extra few hundred rand each month can cover a grocery top-up, transport to a clinic or part of a municipal bill.

Supporters of a moderate increase argue that government is more likely to approve an amount that fits within existing budget pressures, rather than a figure that would require major cuts elsewhere.

Weighing ambition against affordability

The debate highlights a tension many grant recipients face. On one side are those who say the grant has never matched the true cost of living. On the other are those who fear pushing for too much could stall any progress at all.

Both groups agree on one thing: the current grant is under strain as food and electricity prices continue to rise.

What happens next

The proposed increase has not been approved. Any change to grant amounts must be announced by the Minister of Finance, usually in the Budget Speech each February, with new amounts taking effect from April.

Until then, grant recipients will continue to receive their monthly payments at current rates and should check official SASSA channels for confirmed updates.

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