A new digital ID is coming to South Africa — here’s how it works

Every October 1st, South Africa joins the world to observe the International Day of Older Persons. Our seniors, known as gogos and mkhulu, are the backbone of South African families. However, while they receive symbolic recognition and monthly pension payments, many face severe economic hardship, limited healthcare access, and systemic neglect.

Providing for our elders extends far beyond mere financial aid; it requires a comprehensive system that ensures their physical safety, access to healthcare, safe public spaces, and social inclusion. In numerous South African homes, seniors serve as the primary earners and caregivers. With soaring youth unemployment and widespread poverty, families rely heavily on the SASSA Older Persons Grant to survive.

Though the grant provides some relief, it often leaves families struggling to meet basic needs like food, electricity, uniforms, and medication. Long lines at grant collection points, bureaucratic delays, and digital obstacles make accessing essential state assistance a daily torment. Seniors also confront grave safety threats, including financial exploitation by loan sharks, deceptive scams, and a rise in gender-based violence against elderly women.

These dangers prevent many from enjoying the safe, secure lives they deserve. Sarah Khuzwayo, a 65-year-old resident of Phumlani Village, stated, "Our meager pension barely keeps us afloat, but prices have skyrocketed. When my husband became ill, I was forced to take a loan from a predatory lender - paying back R1,300 for a R1,000 loan just to cover his doctor's visit."

This underscores the financial burdens faced by South African seniors. The high cost of necessities such as healthcare, food, and energy leaves many trapped in debt cycles with predatory lenders for emergency expenses. As the main breadwinners, elderly women like Martha Petersen, aged 72, bear the brunt of household survival, enduring long daily queues for grant payments while ensuring her three grandchildren are fed.

Her daily routine highlights the immense physical toll of providing for her family. Tata Themba Dlamini, aged 67, also pointed out the heightened danger faced by elderly women in public spaces. "Financial support is crucial, but seniors also need to feel physically secure as they navigate their communities," said 65-year-old Agnes Mills of Pelican Park.

"We are often viewed as burdens or beggars, rather than valued contributors to our society. We deserve respect, accessible public spaces, and a say in community decisions—not just annual tributes." South Africa's reputation is shaped by how it treats its elderly population. True elder care extends beyond pensions; it necessitates safe streets, reliable healthcare, accessible transportation, and active participation in communal life.

By shifting from neglect to active support, South Africa can transform aging into a time of dignity and celebration, rather than a period of hardship.