Malema vows R4,500 SASSA grants and new allowances if elected

What Malema proposed

Malema criticised the current R370 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant and said it should be increased while remaining targeted to people with no income. He was quoted saying:

“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.”

On pension payouts, Malema called for the SASSA Older Persons Grant to be raised to R4,500. The article notes current payments are R2,400 for people aged 60 to 74 and R2,420 for those over 75.

He also promised a graduate allowance for school leavers who cannot find work, though the report says he gave no details on the amount, eligibility or administration of that allowance.

Electricity and SASSA beneficiaries

Malema said SASSA beneficiaries should be automatically enrolled for Free Basic Electricity (FBE) rather than having to register separately. The report cites Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), with executive manager Julius Kleynhans saying the FBE policy is sound but the execution is poor and that millions of eligible households are not receiving the benefit.

Malema was quoted on the broader point about costs faced by 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.”

Limits and context noted in the report

The article points out that how the EFF would pay for a near-doubling of pension grants and the proposed graduate allowance was not detailed in Malema’s address. It also observes that SASSA and grant amounts are a national government competency, set through the national budget and administered by the Department of Social Development.

The reporting states that local government election results on 4 November 2026 do not directly affect national grant amounts, which are determined in Pretoria at budget time.

Election-season messaging

The article frames Malema’s promises as part of electioneering ahead of the local polls, noting the ambition of the pledges and the lack of implementation detail in his remarks.