- Joyce Dayimane says pensioners are using their grants to feed unemployed children and grandchildren while parties keep promising jobs.
- The 83-year-old wants elected leaders to support elderly people and community foundations that care for them.
Joyce Dayimane has voted in every election. At 83, she is still waiting for politicians’ promises of jobs to reach her family.
The Khayelitsha pensioner says her unemployed children need work, while she needs relief from stretching her grant to feed the family.
“As pensioners, we are not enjoying our grants because we have to worry about buying food for our children and their children,” she said.
“Parties that visited my house promised work, but we have been hearing that for far too long.”
Dayimane plans to vote at home during special voting on Monday, 2 November, and Tuesday, 3 November, ahead of the local government elections on Wednesday, 4 November.
Her family’s struggle reflects a wider jobs crisis. Statistics South Africa recorded 8.5 million unemployed people between April and June 2026, with the official unemployment rate at 33.6%.
But jobs are not the only thing Dayimane wants from the leaders she is voting for. She also wants them to show elderly people care and attention beyond election season.
She recently attended a Bathandwa Foundation event where older residents enjoyed music, hot meals and presents.
“There was not a single political party at the event. That needs to change, the new leaders must prioritise elderly people,” she said.
Dayimane wants elected leaders to support the foundation so it can continue helping elderly residents.
“Some of us don’t even have people buying us presents and taking time to make us happy,” she said.
She also hopes leaders will organise a trip to Robben Island for older people.
“Political parties know where to find us but they never did. But now that they want us to vote, they visited us. I will be voting at home and I hope that my vote will bring change,” she said.
Foundation founder Bathandwa Gali says many elderly people in townships face neglect and abuse from their own children and grandchildren.
She has organised events for older residents for three years, giving them a chance to enjoy themselves and feel appreciated.
“It was important for me to do something special for them because we have been hearing a lot of bad stories about elders being mistreated, and a small act meant a lot to them,” Gali said.
“Seeing them happy and dancing made my day because that’s what I wanted to see.”
Gali says she plans to continue and hopes others will also make time for elderly people.
“I will continue because I know some don’t get presents and they are not told they are loved,” she said.
Gladys Magcikana, 78, feared rising costs would prevent this year’s event from happening.
“The cost of living is too high and she’s doing all of this using her money,” she said.
“We can see that everything is expensive, but she pushed through and made sure that we are happy. We are grateful that even in these difficult times she didn’t forget about us.”
