Elderly citizens, joined by community leaders and activists, marched from Cape Town’s Grand Parade to Parliament on Tuesday morning, demanding dignity, fair treatment, and a “living wage” in place of the current social grants system.

The march, led by organiser Pat Lee, aimed to hand over a memorandum addressed to President Cyril Ramaphosa.

“Our seniors are unhappy with the way they’ve been treated by SASSA’s officials, security guards, Postbank and the continued exchanging of cards, non-payments, etc.,” said Lee.

Participants gathered on the paved area at the Grand Parade before proceeding up Buitenkant Street, into Roeland Street, and assembling outside the gates of Parliament. After the memorandum handover, the group returned to the starting point where the march dispersed.

Jeff van Wyk from Parow Valley said the protest marked a turning point.

“Today is historic in the sense that we as seniors are giving over our demands by memorandum, and we deserve something better. We’ve been promised good things, a new dawn, but nothing has happened,” he said.

“Our people are humiliated, our people are in poverty, and so we need to engage with the government. Definitely, we deserve better. We’ve paid our taxes, we’ve paid our dues, but we’ve been sidelined.”

Others spoke about the hardships endured under the current grant system. A retired teacher said she felt punished after applying for a pension despite decades of paying tax.

“They started me with a R270 pension. It has been increasing ever since, and it’s up to 1,500 right now. I feel it is not right. I was the one working, paying a huge amount of tax, and they couldn’t even give me that money,” she said.

“Every time you go to the shop, the food is poor, you pay more, and your shopping becomes less. That is why I came because I also want a R5,000 living wage.”

Chief Willie Moses of the Aboriginal Khoisan Nation said the struggle was not just about money but about recognition.

“We are here today on behalf of our nation, the most disadvantaged, the most traumatised, and the most neglected group that serves as the custodians of this wonderful country. You can’t live on R2,300 and make a decent living,” he said.

“There’s no way that the custodians of land can be deprived of their rightful inheritance. We must rise up, speak to the leaders, so that they can take our hand and help us. Our struggle continues until we get our victory.”

The Democratic Alliance’s spokesperson on Social Development, Alexandra Abrahams, who attended the march to receive the memorandum, pledged to take the grievances directly to Parliament.

“You aren’t just protesting for yourselves and for your family. You are protesting for the nation regardless of race, regardless of religion, for the 29 million South Africans who depend on a social grant to survive,” she said.

Abrahams added that the timing of the march was significant.

“It just so happens that we have a committee meeting tomorrow here in Parliament. I will take your memorandum and I’ll give it to the Minister of Social Development, our committee chairperson, the CEO of SASSA, and the Director-General of the department. We once again commit ourselves that we will continue to fight this cause on behalf of all social grant recipients.”

The seniors vowed to continue their campaign for a better standard of living.

“People have faced tremendous hardships, people have faced tremendous sacrifices, but despite that, they’re here today,” said van Wyk.

“We just want our plight to be heard and attention to be given.”

IOL

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