Malema promises R4500 SASSA grants and more if elected

R4 500 SASSA grants, this is the promise of EFF’s Julius Malema to the elderly as electioneering starts to ramp up. With South Africa’s local government elections set for Wednesday 4 November, the EFF kicked off their party manifesto up country this weekend.

The controversial EFF leader spent Saturday in the North West and Mpumalanga, making a string of promises about SASSA Grants aimed squarely at pensioners, the unemployed and graduates stuck without jobs …

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MALEMA’S PLAN FOR R4500 SASSA GRANTS

Firstly, Malema is not impressed by the current state of R370 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) SASSA Grants. What started as ‘temporary’ COVID-19 emergency relief six years ago, has gone nowhere since, he says. “We do not want the SRD grant just to be permanent, but we want it to increase, because what can one buy with R370? But it must only be given to people who have no income,” he told party supporters.

Moreover, Malema insisted that no party has the authority to scrap SASSA Grants. And that the EFF will keep it running for the millions of households that depend on it. Next, was the EFF’s bold pledge of a ‘graduate allowance’ for school leavers who cannot find work. However, he gave no detail on how much the allowance would be, who qualifies, or how it would be administered. So, take with a pinch of pre-election salt perhaps …

SASSA GRANTS FOR PENSIONERS UP TO R4500

Recipients of SASSA Grants anxiously await news of October 2026 increases from the National Treasury. Image: File

Like him or loathe him, Malema knows his audience. And his address in Mpumalanga soon turned to attention on community elders. The same elders whom, he pointed out, are also raising grandchildren. Currently, the SASSA Older Persons Grant pays R2 400 (60 to 74), and R2 420 for those over 75.

However, Malema wants this pushed up to R4 500 immediately. This would nearly double the payouts across the bracket. He also wants SASSA beneficiaries automatically enrolled for Free Basic Electricity (FBE), rather than having to separately register for indigent benefits. His assertion is backed up by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA). Executive manager, Julius Kleynhans, said the FBE policy itself is sound but the execution is not, explaining that millions of eligible households simply aren’t getting the benefit.

POWER TO SASSA PENSIONERS

“SASSA Old-Age pensioners must not have to pay for electricity. Because when they give you social grants, it is because you are struggling. And then they come and steal it back with taxes water and electricity. You cannot be poor when it’s time to receive you SASSA Grants, but rich when it’s time to pay for electricity and water,” said Malema. Of course, how the EFF will afford a near-doubling of SASSA pension and the introduction of a ‘graduate allowance’ was not mentioned in his address. As with much election-season rhetoric ahead of Wednesday 4 November 2026 local elections, the ambition is loud but details on implementation are quiet.

However, the simple truth is Malema’s plea to voters does not survive a litmus test. The social grant system is a national government competency. SASSA is a national agency, run under the Department of Social Development (DSD), with grant amounts set through the national fiscus. November’s local government elections, which’ll decide who is in charge of your municipality, et al, has zero bearing on SASSA.

Therefore, when the EFF leader frames grant increases as something on the ballot on 4 November 2026, he’s misrepresenting the issue entirely. Whatever seats the EFF may win this time round, it changes nothing about the current trajectory of R370 SRD and R2 400 Older Person Grants. Those numbers are decided nationally in Pretoria come annual Budget time.

But what do you think? Would you vote for the EFF and Malema based on his R4 500 SASSA Grants promise for the elderly? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below …

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