In South Africa, millions of older people continue to play a vital role in supporting their families, often taking on responsibilities typically associated with younger generations. According to Statistics South Africa, nearly eight million children, or 38% of the country's child population, live in households headed by grandparents. This trend is particularly concerning, given that about one in three people in the labour force cannot find work, leaving many families reliant on the Older Person's Grant.
The weight of this responsibility is often shouldered by older women, who make up about 61% of South Africa's older population. Grandmothers, in particular, account for more than two-thirds of grandparents living with children. The Older Person's Grant, which provides about R2,400 a month, is often stretched across multiple households, covering expenses such as food, electricity, school costs, and transport. This grant has become a lifeline for many families, but it also highlights the significant burden placed on older persons.
Ishrene Davids, director of Ikamva Labantu, a women- and community-led organisation, notes that older people are not simply part of the past, but are central to the future of the people. Her organisation works alongside township changemakers to build thriving communities, and she sees firsthand the daily struggles faced by older women who stretch their grants across households while also collecting children from school, preparing meals, and caring for relatives.
Despite their significant contributions, older people in South Africa often face neglect, emotional abuse, physical harm, and isolation. A study commissioned by Ikamva Labantu in 2024 found recurring reports of economic abuse among older people in Cape Town's townships, with relatives often taking control of their bank cards, demanding grant money, or controlling their income against their wishes. These risks are often underrepresented, and policymakers must take steps to address them.
South Africa's policy framework provides a strong foundation for supporting older people, with the Older Persons Act 13 of 2006 recognising older people as rights holders and providing for community-based and home-based care. However, the challenge lies in ensuring that this intent reaches older people consistently, including those who are frail, homebound, or living far from essential services.
To address these challenges, Ikamva Labantu and other organisations are working to provide practical support and respite to family caregivers, ensuring that food, transport, and healthcare reach the older person as well as the household around them. On International Day of Older Persons, Ikamva Labantu will hold 16 simultaneous Circles of Care events at senior clubs across Cape Town's townships, providing health screening, rights information, and direct links to support.
Ultimately, the question is whether the systems around older South Africans recognise the true weight of their contribution and share it fairly. Older South Africans have not retired from caring for others, and it is essential that we, as a society, stop retiring from caring for them. Their care for others cannot come at the cost of their own food, health, safety, or dignity.
Key points
- Many older South Africans continue to support families, with nearly eight million children living in households headed by grandparents.
- Older women, in particular, bear the brunt of this responsibility, accounting for 61% of South Africa's older population.
- Policymakers must take steps to address the risks faced by older people, including neglect, emotional abuse, and economic abuse.
