08 Dec 2020

Parliament has been informed that old age pension monthly allowance had been progressively increased almost every year since its inception in 1996. 

Answering a question in Parliament on Monday, Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Kgotla Autlwetse noted that in 1996 the allowance was P100 and it was increased to P430 in 2017, adding that the last increase was to P530 in 2019. In respect of Ipelegeng, Mr Autlwetse said the wages rates were last increased by five per cent to the current levels in April 2017, and it was from P540 to P567 for labourers and P620 to P651 for supervisors.

He further noted that various factors including COVID-19 pandemic had brought many financial constraints, hence the ministry had no plans to increase the two allowances. Mahalapye West MP, Mr David Tshere wanted to know when the minister was considering an annual increment of old age pension and Ipelegeng allowances by P100 as it had been the norm. Ends