To: The Minister of Social Development, the Minister of Finance, the National Treasury and the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa
We, the undersigned residents of South Africa, hereby petition the government as follows:
Background
Millions of South Africans depend on government social grants as their primary source of income. These grants provide essential support to older persons, people living with disabilities, caregivers and vulnerable families.
However, the rising cost of food, electricity, transport, healthcare and other basic necessities places increasing pressure on grant recipients.
Many pensioners and people living with disabilities are forced to make difficult choices between buying food, purchasing essential medication, paying for transport to medical appointments and meeting other basic survival and living needs.
Social grants are a vital lifeline. They must provide meaningful support that recognises the realities faced by vulnerable members of our society.
We recognise the financial challenges facing government, but we believe that the dignity, well-being and basic needs of grant recipients must remain a national priority.
Our demands
We respectfully call on the South African government to:
- Review and increase social grants: Conduct an urgent review of grant values (Minimum (R7500) in relation to inflation and the actual cost of essential living expenses.
- Improve support for people living with disabilities: Ensure that disability grant recipients receive adequate financial support to meet their essential needs, including disability-related expenses.
- Protect older persons: Take meaningful steps to ensure that older persons can afford food, transport and other basic necessities.
- Commit to a transparent review process: Provide the public with clear information about how grant increases are determined and how the government intends to protect vulnerable households against rising living costs.
- Engage with grant recipients: Establish meaningful consultation with pensioners, people living with disabilities, caregivers and community organisations when reviewing social grant policy.
Our appeal
We are not asking for luxury. We are asking for dignity, fairness and the ability to meet basic human needs.
No older person should have to choose between food and medication. No person living with a disability should be left without adequate support to meet essential daily expenses.
We therefore call on the government to urgently review social grant values and take practical steps to ensure that grant recipients are not left further behind as the cost of living increases.
We request a formal response from the relevant authorities outlining the steps that will be taken to address these concerns.
Every signature represents a call for dignity, compassion and meaningful action.
We invite all South Africans who support this cause to sign and share this petition.
Initiated by: Community members and concerned residents of South Africa
Date: October 2026
Contact person: Nilesh Maharaj . Jay Singh, Prem Mungal, Bradley Steenkamp
17 Comments
Cost of living is too high, pension is not enough, at least even if it's 4000+,after paying water and electricity, which is unable to cover both of these which is very important to have, no food... etc.
Hello..my daughter collects a disability grant..but I can't even afford ot or physio for her
Firstly I know of elderly that are suffering in this country because they can't make ends meet and I will also be in their situation one day as with the present situation I am struggling to make ends meet thou I am working
Very simple. How can the government believe it's right to pay their ministers and officials in excess of R200000pm but those reliant on social grants for pension and disability R2420pm. The government ministers and officials are public servant who forgot the people they serve. Look at the wasteful and fruitless expenditure. This alone can cover a dignified and decent grant income of R7500 or more and still there will be enough left for more such unnecessary fruitless and wasteful expenditure.
Things are getting harder
All water/lights/food and fuel costs are goingup every month
It's my only source of income.
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To: The Minister of Social Development, the Minister of Finance, the National Treasury and the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa
We, the undersigned residents of South Africa, hereby petition the government as follows:
Background
Millions of South Africans depend on government social grants as their primary source of income. These grants provide essential support to older persons, people living with disabilities, caregivers and vulnerable families.
However, the rising cost of food, electricity, transport, healthcare and other basic necessities places increasing pressure on grant recipients.
Many pensioners and people living with disabilities are forced to make difficult choices between buying food, purchasing essential medication, paying for transport to medical appointments and meeting other basic survival and living needs.
Social grants are a vital lifeline. They must provide meaningful support that recognises the realities faced by vulnerable members of our society.
We recognise the financial challenges facing government, but we believe that the dignity, well-being and basic needs of grant recipients must remain a national priority.
Our demands
We respectfully call on the South African government to:
- Review and increase social grants: Conduct an urgent review of grant values (Minimum (R7500) in relation to inflation and the actual cost of essential living expenses.
- Improve support for people living with disabilities: Ensure that disability grant recipients receive adequate financial support to meet their essential needs, including disability-related expenses.
- Protect older persons: Take meaningful steps to ensure that older persons can afford food, transport and other basic necessities.
- Commit to a transparent review process: Provide the public with clear information about how grant increases are determined and how the government intends to protect vulnerable households against rising living costs.
- Engage with grant recipients: Establish meaningful consultation with pensioners, people living with disabilities, caregivers and community organisations when reviewing social grant policy.
Our appeal
We are not asking for luxury. We are asking for dignity, fairness and the ability to meet basic human needs.
No older person should have to choose between food and medication. No person living with a disability should be left without adequate support to meet essential daily expenses.
We therefore call on the government to urgently review social grant values and take practical steps to ensure that grant recipients are not left further behind as the cost of living increases.
We request a formal response from the relevant authorities outlining the steps that will be taken to address these concerns.
Every signature represents a call for dignity, compassion and meaningful action.
We invite all South Africans who support this cause to sign and share this petition.
Initiated by: Community members and concerned residents of South Africa
Date: October 2026
Contact person: Nilesh Maharaj . Jay Singh, Prem Mungal, Bradley Steenkamp
17 Comments
That old people can not live only on R2400 they work hard for years and now they can not cope
Cost of living is too high, pension is not enough, at least even if it's 4000+,after paying water and electricity, which is unable to cover both of these which is very important to have, no food... etc.
Hello..my daughter collects a disability grant..but I can't even afford ot or physio for her
Firstly I know of elderly that are suffering in this country because they can't make ends meet and I will also be in their situation one day as with the present situation I am struggling to make ends meet thou I am working
Very simple. How can the government believe it's right to pay their ministers and officials in excess of R200000pm but those reliant on social grants for pension and disability R2420pm. The government ministers and officials are public servant who forgot the people they serve. Look at the wasteful and fruitless expenditure. This alone can cover a dignified and decent grant income of R7500 or more and still there will be enough left for more such unnecessary fruitless and wasteful expenditure.
Things are getting harder
All water/lights/food and fuel costs are goingup every month
It's my only source of income.
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That old people can not live only on R2400 they work hard for years and now they can not cope