Malema's Bold Pledge: SASSA Old-Age Grant to Soar to R4,500!
EFF leader Julius Malema has promised to increase the SASSA old-age grant to R4,500 if his party comes to power, a key pledge during his North West and Mpumalanga provincial manifesto launches. He criticized current grants and stated the government could afford the increase by preventing fund misuse. This proposal positions social grants as a critical issue for the upcoming 4 November local government elections.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader, Julius Malema, has made a significant commitment to increase the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) old-age grant to R4,500 per month should his party assume power. This promise was a central point of his address to EFF supporters during the party’s provincial manifesto launch in North West on a Saturday, forming part of the ongoing political campaigns leading up to the 4 November local government elections.
During his speech, Malema emphatically assured beneficiaries that an EFF-led government would not only maintain existing social grants but would significantly enhance them. He criticized the current ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), for allegedly failing to adequately support pensioners. Malema articulated that the funds for these grants rightfully belong to the pensioners, stating, "You paid taxes while you were working, that is your money. We will not take away your grants, instead we will double them. In fact, we want it to start at R4 500."
Currently, South Africa's old-age grant stands at R2,400 per month, a figure that includes an R80 increase announced in the 2026 Budget. Beneficiaries who are over 75 years old receive a slightly higher amount of R2,420. Malema's proposal of R4,500 represents a substantial increase over these existing figures.
Beyond the old-age grant, Malema also expressed strong disapproval of the R370 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, deeming it insufficient to meet the basic needs of unemployed South Africans. He advocated for the introduction of a new grant specifically tailored for unemployed graduates, highlighting a broader vision for social welfare reform. The SRD grant, despite its criticisms, has been allocated funding by the government to continue until 31 March 2027.
Reiterating his proposal, Julius Malema emphasized the R4,500 old-age grant during another address in Mpumalanga on the same day. He argued that pensioners are deserving of this increase because many serve as crucial financial pillars for their families. "They will be able to look after us and look after our children. They deserve better, we must support them and we must fight for them because fighting for Gogo’s is fighting for black families. They are the heads of black families," he passionately stated. Malema asserted that the government possesses the financial capacity to implement such an increase, provided that public funds are managed responsibly and not misused.
This bold proposal from the EFF leader comes amidst a heated political climate, with various parties actively campaigning for the upcoming local government elections. Social grants, high unemployment rates, and the escalating cost of living are widely anticipated to remain pivotal issues for voters, making Malema's promises a direct appeal to a significant segment of the electorate.