A South African pensioner has described struggling to feed his household on the R2 400 Older Persons' Grant from the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), according to The South African. He shared what he would change about the system and expressed hope that grants could rise to R5 000, highlighting the financial hardship faced by some elderly grant recipients.

According to The South African, pensioners could see a sizeable increase in the old-age grant, although expectations remain short of the R5,000 monthly payment many beneficiaries want. The report frames the issue around what government is likely to provide rather than the higher demand, indicating that any adjustment will be set against official budget and policy limits. Details of the exact increase are not included in the feed.

An Eastern Cape pensioner who rents privately says the monthly SASSA grant helps him cover rent, but the money does not stretch far enough to meet his needs. Speaking to The South African, the retired man said receiving the payment itself is not a problem for him, but described how quickly the funds are used up each month. His account highlights the financial pressure facing older grant recipients who rely on the social grant while paying private rental costs.

South African Social Security Agency grant recipients have rallied behind a demand to increase pensioners' grants to R5000, according to The South African. While some online commenters focused on payment dates, others used the discussion to highlight more pressing concerns about grant amounts and financial losses. The calls reflect growing pressure among beneficiaries for higher social support payments amid rising living costs in South Africa.

Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema has proposed that South African pensioners receive a monthly grant of R4,500, according to SABC Politics. The report gives no details on eligibility, funding, timing, or whether the proposal has formal government backing; it is framed as a political call to raise support for older people.

Questions have been raised over whether the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) could run out of money to pay grant beneficiaries, according to The South African. The report notes that SASSA depends on taxpayer funding to sustain its social grant payments, and suggests that persistently low wages combined with high unemployment could shrink the tax base supporting the system. This, the report argues, could place pensioners and other vulnerable grant recipients at risk if funding pressures intensify.