Older persons let down by government

The Portfolio Committee on Social Development held a meeting on Tuesday, 11 March, to respond to a petition submitted to Parliament last year by “Concerned Pensioners” on behalf of over 2 800 pensioners. The petition focused on the disappointment pensioners felt with both national and local government, who had failed to improve their living conditions.

Mr Derek Kloppers, who spoke on behalf of the pensioners, said that the value of the Old Age Pension (OAP) was too small to allow older persons to live comfortably, and that access to residential facilities and health services was poor. Older persons were requesting an increase of R2 000 in the old age pension amount, as R1 200 was not enough to cover living expenses such as rent, medication and food. Increases in food prices made it exceptionally difficult for pensioners to afford even the most basic items, thus increasing the likelihood of malnutrition.

He warned that most pensioners would “not be voting if they did not receive an increase of R2 000” in the budget this year. Kloppers added that the “government needed to look after pensioners”, and that a pension of between R3 000 to R4 000 was needed to alleviate poverty among older persons.

Additionally, the South African Social Services Agency (SASSA) card system was problematic as pensioners had to stand in long queues waiting for their money, and many of them no longer remember their pin numbers. Gangsters and criminals also saw this as an opportunity to rob pensioners.

Kloppers informed MPs that most pensioners, who could not afford this, were being forced by government to pay taxes. Day hospitals were another sore point as pensioners sat for hours waiting for medication. Corruption at old age homes also needed to be eradicated. More homes and retirement homes needed to be built, with reasonable rentals and subsidized electricity. He proposed that food vouchers should also be subsidised.

Deputy Minister for Social Development, Ms Bongi Maria Ntuli, assured pensioners that health care was being addressed by the introduction of the National Health Insurance. She encouraged them to join the Older Persons Forum where solutions to issues would be discussed further. However, Kloppers responded that the Forum was “just for talk” and the Department for Social Development was not taking any real action.

The Minister acknowledged that “families were under a lot of pressure and there was a lot of disintegration within families. This resulted in older persons being left alone with no proper care. The White Paper on Families was on the table and would be discussed with the public.”

At Tuesday’s meeting, Mr Coceko Pakade, Director General of the Department, said these matters were a priority area in its strategic plan, and were close to the heart of the Minister and Deputy Minister. “There was a need to protect vulnerable groups from instances of insecurity” he said. The Older Persons Act of 2006 would deal effectively with the plight of older persons and promote their status, rights, well being, safety and security.

The Department “had a constitutional mandate to provide income support (social assistance) to those who did not have sufficient social security provision for old age”, and “various studies had revealed that social grants, in particularly the Older Persons’ Grants, were one of the most effective strategies employed in minimising poverty”. However, the grant was often used to support the entire family. According to Pakade, government was grappling with how to ensure that other members of the family did not become a burden on the older ones.

Read the full report here. Read the full petition here.