“Behind You All the Way”: Pensioners Threaten Election Deregistration Over R5k SASSA Grant Demand

• South African pensioners rallied outside a SASSA office demanding their monthly grant be raised from R2,400 to R5,000
• The group, Pensioners of South Africa, warned that 6.3 million elderly voters could deregister if the government ignores their demands
• Treasury proposed increases of only R100 to R120 for 2027, a figure that left pensioners and supporters furious

South African pensioners are drawing a hard line ahead of the next elections. The group, known as Pensioners of South Africa (POSA), held a protest outside the SASSA Phoenix/Verulam Local Office, calling on the government to raise the old age grant from R2,400 to R5,000 a month.

Their message was blunt: no R5,000, no vote.

Pensioners push back against Treasury's R100 offer

A spokesperson for the group, speaking in a video that has since racked up 45,000 views on Facebook, explained what triggered the renewed outcry. He had read a media report stating that pensioners were hoping for a grant increase to R5,000, which would represent a jump of R2,600. However, the same report confirmed that Treasury was only planning increases of R100 and R120 for 2027. Visibly frustrated, he asked:

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"No increase, no votes": Man heartbroken by pensioners protesting for higher grant, SA supports

"Is this what they think of our senior citizens?"

The group was careful to distance itself from party politics, describing itself as anti-political. Their fight, the spokesperson said, is with government as an institution. The strategy is to push a petition as broadly as possible, gathering enough signatures to force the issue before the next election cycle.

The numbers they cite are significant. With an estimated 6.3 million pensioners in South Africa, the group argued that a collective decision to deregister from the voters' roll could shift election outcomes dramatically.

"If you give the winning party 6.3 million votes from senior citizens, they want R5,000," the spokesperson said.

View the Facebook video below:

Mzansi reacts to the pensioners' stand

The video drew strong support from South Africans across the page:

@Washiela Mahoney said:

"Thanks JC, they have a point, no R5,000, no vote. I'm in."

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@Raymond Williams wrote:

"Agree 💯, no 5,000, no vote."

@Josias Fourie added:

"I also want R5,000 a month; after all, I paid taxes all my life, so all the people must get R5,000."

@Allison Hanslo commented:

"Disgusting that they have to beg, worked in this country for all their lives and paid taxes."

@Amber Welcome Baartman shared:

"Thanks for having a heart, POSA. We pensioners are behind you all the way."

@Zenowia Ait Aissi suggested:

"You might do well asking your legals about Chapter 9 of the Constitution, and then involve the Public Protector. There would then be evidence to support your action. Thank you for all your hard work for pensioners."

More Briefly News stories on pensioners

• Qualifying pensioner homeowners will keep their property rates rebates until June 2027 without submitting new paperwork.
• Pensioners are demanding that the SASSA grant increase from R2,400 to R5,000, with a TikTok protest highlighting their financial struggles.
• Pensioners in South Africa have staged nationwide pickets calling for the Older Persons Grant to be increased to R5,000.

Source: Briefly News