Cyril Ramaphosa Promises to Increase Gogo’s Pension During Community Walkabout, SA Weighs In

An elderly South African woman has captured the attention of social media users after confronting President Cyril Ramaphosa about her SASSA pension during a community walkabout.

The interaction took place on 19 October 2026, when Ramaphosa visited residents and greeted members of the community. A video of the encounter, shared by My ANC on Facebook, showed the pensioner taking the opportunity to tell the president that her monthly grant was not enough.

Ramaphosa, who was wearing an ANC-branded jacket, was seen warmly greeting and embracing residents as he moved along what appeared to be a residential street.

However, it was his brief exchange with the elderly woman that caught the attention of South Africans online.

The gogo did not hesitate to raise her concerns about the amount she received from the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA). Speaking partly in Afrikaans, she told Ramaphosa that her pension was “te min”, meaning it was too little.

The president reportedly responded by saying that the pension would be increased a little, prompting online discussions about whether his words amounted to a promise.

The video captured a candid moment between the two, with bystanders and officials looking on as the conversation unfolded. The president’s relaxed demeanour and the pensioner’s straightforward approach contributed to the clip gaining traction on social media.

The encounter sparked a range of reactions from Facebook users, with many praising the elderly woman for speaking directly to the president about the financial challenges faced by pensioners.

Michael Crowder jokingly praised the gogo’s negotiating skills, writing: “This granny knows how to negotiate with Ramaphosa… All about the Benjamins, well done aunty!”

Albert Coetzee also weighed in on the exchange, pointing out the pensioner’s complaint and the president’s response.

“So the lady says, ‘pension is bietjie min’ [a little low], and Rama says, ‘we will increase it a bit.’ That’s a promise made, let’s see if it happens,” he commented.

The comments reflected the amusement and interest generated by the brief exchange, with some users focusing on the pensioner’s boldness and others discussing the president’s response.

As the clip continues to attract attention, viewers are left wondering whether the president’s response will translate into any concrete changes for pensioners.

“Promise Made”: Pensioner Complains About SASSA Pension to Cyril Ramaphosa, SA Notes His Response – Briefly.co.za

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