South Africa’s gogos are holding families together — and paying the price - IOL

Every 1 October, South Africa joins the global community to mark the International Day of Older Persons.

In a country where gogos and mkhulu often raise generations on Older Persons Grant, our elders are the bedrock of our society.

Yet, beyond heartfelt tributes and annual speeches, a troubling reality remains: far too many of South Africa’s seniors age in the shadows of economic vulnerability, physical insecurity, and systemic neglect.

Catering to our older generation cannot begin and end with a monthly payout. True care requires an ecosystem that guarantees bodily safety, accessible healthcare, accessible public spaces, and social inclusion. 

As our demographic landscape shifts, moving from mere recognition to active structural support is no longer just a social duty—it is an urgent imperative for our collective humanity.

In many of South African households, seniors act as primary breadwinners and caregivers. Amid high youth unemployment and structural poverty, families heavily depend on the monthly SASSA Older Persons Grant for survival.

Though helpful, this grant is stretched across household needs like food, power, uniforms, and medicine.

Long collection queues, administrative delays, and digital hurdles make accessing basic state aid a monthly physical and emotional strain.

Additionally, seniors encounter serious safety risks. Financial exploitation by informal lenders, predatory scams, and increasing gender-based violence against elderly women deprive many of the safe, peaceful living environments they deserve.

Phumlani Village resident Sarah Khuzwayo, a 65-year-old senior, shared: “We rely on that grant just to get by, but everything has become far too expensive. 

“When my husband fell ill, I had no choice but to take a loan from a cash loan shark - repaying R1 300 for a R1 000 loan - simply to afford his doctor's visit.”

This highlights the financial pressures facing South African seniors. High costs for necessities like healthcare, food, and energy force many into debt traps with predatory lenders to cover emergencies. 

Because monthly social grants support whole households, minor expenses severely threaten family financial stability.

Pelican Park resident Martha Petersen, aged 72, shared: “My day begins at 4am queuing at the grant collection site - not solely for my own needs, but to guarantee my three grandchildren have groceries for this month. 

“My knees swell terribly before I am able to rest. Yet I cannot stop; without my standing there, our family simply goes without food.”

Her daily experience highlights how elderly grandmothers often carry the full burden of household survival under severe physical strain.

Tata Themba Dlamini, aged 67, of Phumlani Village explained that young men in the township are well aware of grant payment dates and gather around payout sites and street corners.

He noted that elderly women constantly have to look over their shoulders when walking home from the store, emphasising that safety in their streets is just as crucial to them as financial support. 

“When people see an older person, they often view us as a burden or someone seeking hand-outs,” expressed 65-year-old Agnes Mills of Pelican Park. 

“They overlook the fact that we constructed these homes, raised these families, and contributed taxes over many decades.

"We aren't seeking pity or annual speeches for the International Day of Older Persons—what we want is respect, accessible seating in public spaces, and a seat at the table when community decisions are being made.”

A nation's character is defined by how it honours those who built it. Beyond pension grants, true elder care requires safe streets, efficient healthcare, accessible transport, and an active voice in society.

By replacing neglect with practical support, South Africa can ensure old age is celebrated rather than endured.