The urgent need for higher pensions for South African seniors

Colleen Lowry, Kenilworth

In response to the Southern Suburbs Tatler article, (“Seniors rally for respect and improved services from SASSA at Parliament,” Tatler, September 4).

The South African Social Security (Sassa) pension is an insult and belittles senior citizens. In my opinion, the Sassa pension should only be available to seniors from 65 upwards, as they are allowed to work until that age. Persons wanting to claim earlier could apply for a disability grant instead if they qualify, or get off their backs and find something to do to earn an income.

However, those 65 to 69 should get at least R5 000 per month; 70 to 74 should get R7 500 per month, and those 75 and upwards should get the prevailing Western Cape municipal indigent benchmark income, which is R10 000 per month.

The older one gets, the more medical care is needed and let's face it, the clinics no longer dispense medication that one got before, cheap aqueous cream for old dry skin was first to go about three years ago, then anti fungal tablets (flucanazole) to control toe nail fungus (which can be so painful that eventually you can't wear shoes) now this year it's liquid hydrogen to freeze skin cancer before it needs to be cut out and disfigured. Oh, and they don't have tablets for tape worms either, which is R65 for one dose.

At this rate, it won't be long before all we can get at the clinics is paracetamol. 

For those who think indigent pensioners should be satisfied with the current government pension of R2 320, look at how it goes :

• Electricity R300 during summer and R400 during winter per month.

•Train to the clinic and back R20

• One WhatsApp bundle R29

•Dog vet bill - R310 per month

• Dog food - R180 (dry) + R60 (wet) per month.

• Tick, Flea, deworming R91 per month.

• Pet accident insurance R80 per month.

That adds up to around R1 120, which leaves R1 200 for food, toiletries, and detergents. A total of R40 per day. Clothing and rent are obviously not affordable. Hardly surprising that homelessness is a huge problem.  How do those who don't have a roof over their head survive?

And l will not surrender my faithful friend of eight years to be  "put to sleep" at a dog shelter. 

After my last contract ended in 2021, l tried to find work but gave up two years ago at age 67. However, I'm still willing to do dog walking below the line around Kenilworth / Claremont or anything legal. WhatsApp me at 084 965 8684.