‘My pension is R2400, my rent is R3700’: Pensioner’s SASSA struggle exposed
· The South African
Following The South African’s coverage of SASSA old-age grant amounts, one commenter’s stark breakdown of monthly survival on a pension has struck a nerve with readers, sparking a wider conversation about whether the grant was ever designed to cover the true cost of living in South Africa today.
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Sidney Mileham laid out the harsh reality in a single sentence that summed up the frustrations of many pensioners: “Fully agree my pension is R2400 my rent is R3700 excluding lights and water.” The shortfall of over a thousand rand, before a single light bulb or drop of water is even accounted for, immediately drew sympathy and shock in the replies that followed, with many pointing out that the numbers simply don’t work for anyone trying to live independently.
Food costs add another layer of hardship
Fatima Karodia picked up on the gap Mileham described, pointing to a second, equally pressing problem. She asked “and what about food? Prices are so high you look and walk pass some of them,” highlighting how grant recipients are often forced to choose between paying rent and putting meals on the table.
Her comment reflects a pattern seen across SASSA-related discussions, where the grant, once rent and basic bills are factored in, leaves little to nothing for groceries.
Not everyone agrees on what the grant is for
The thread wasn’t without pushback. Ayeza Amathamsanqa challenged the framing of the conversation entirely, arguing that “the money is not for your rent though,” suggesting the grant was never intended to function as a full income replacement.
Others took a more political turn in response to the hardship described. Barney Barnard called for accountability from those in power, saying, “Give ANC 2400 pm and see if they can cope,” while Andre Visser weighed in with a broader economic take, remarking that “a communist society works very well as long as capitalism is healthy and in place.”
Together, the exchange paints a vivid picture of the real arithmetic pensioners are up against, a pension that falls short of rent alone, food prices that add further pressure, and a public divided over what the grant should realistically be expected to cover.
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