EDITOR – Nobody seems to care about pensioners and the costs they have to face each year.
By pensioners, I mean those who are 70 years and older and cannot be employed anymore.
There is a tendency from companies that pensioners deal, with to increase their fees annually.
But, they do not take into consideration that pensioners do not get increases and that investment income is frozen for five years, so they must come out on what they get, or Government gives a paltry increase which is laughable.
All the companies, be it insurance, panic button or security, medical aid (if they are lucky enough) perhaps a small bouquet of DSTV for entertainment, TV licence and the many other institutions they have to deal with, push their fees up annually by at least R20 to R30.
It is seldom R10 and even that is difficult to meet.
Now, if one takes these annual increases into consideration, one has to ask the question “where is it going to end”?
If it goes up by R20 per annum, in 10 years’ time, it will be R200 more per institution.
One does not even take into account food, medication, vet’s fees (very few vets give pensioner’s discount, even if given, it’s not much), animal food (which is atrociously priced for older people who have dogs/cats for security, or as company).
When it comes to petrol, toll gates, car repairs (if they still have one) they have to pay the same as everyone else.
Shame on the government that taxi’s are exempt but not pensioners.
Nobody fights for their rights.
I would suggest that companies stop satisfying their shareholders at the cost of pensioners. Surely they can see from their records, or from identity papers, who are pensioners and who not?
The fees should be stagnated at a certain point and not increased any further, so as to assist the older people.
Come on companies, you who sponsor sports events, music events and so on. Please do not ask the pensioners to pay more so that you can afford to do this.
It is just not fair or right.
MARJORIE JARRETT
EDENVALE
