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It is just after 7.30am and the elderly have already queued outside the Shoprite at the Sophiatown Shopping Centre in Johannesburg to collect their pensions.
The queue grows as more pensioners join it. Some have been there since the “shop opened at 7am”.
Orange markings on the floor give customers and those in line to collect their pensions an indication of the distance that should be between themselves and those behind and in front of them.
There are two distinct queues on either side of the Shoprite – the one on the left is “for us” says an elderly woman – who has come to “collect her pension”. She approaches it while holding her mother and helps her to the queue.
The one on the right is for those coming to do their early morning shopping for essentials, amid the 21-day lockdown instituted by President Cyril Ramaphosa five days ago.
Delores Gelderbloem (67) is with her 85-year-old mother and they have both come to collect their pensions.
As she pulls her grey scarf over her shoulders with her glove-covered hands, Gelderbloem makes it clear through her face mask that “if we didn’t have to be here, we definitely would not be”.
If they had a choice, they would be indoors.
“This virus is serious and I am worried about being here right now instead of indoors. That is why I am wearing a mask,” she says.
Gelderbloem, who says she has adhered to instructions by government to stay indoors, adds that she is mostly concerned about her mother, whom she says is “more susceptible to dying of this virus because of her age”.
“She is 85 but she still has to come out during this time to collect her pension,” she says as she turns to look at her mother who is standing about a metre away from her daughter.
“I myself suffer from a chronic illness and could also easily die from this virus. It is a scary time, not just for us but for the world at large.”
Adding to her woes is that her mother still “has to stand for a long period of time”.
“I think the shop should have made a plan for those older than some of us. She will stand in the queue for a long time and it is even possible that by the time we get inside we will be told there is no more money and will be turned away,” she says.
“Those in the same age group as my mother should be attended to first.”
Standing behind her is 75-year-old pensioner Simon Gumede who, like Gelderbloem, is scared about having to be outside during this time.
“In all honesty, I left my house reluctantly. I had no choice but to come here, not just for the money, but I need food as well and I had to wait for my pension to come through before I could get that. So either way, I had no choice.”
Gumede, who drove himself to the shopping centre, says he is “worried about those older than him who still have to use public transport to get to places where they can access their pensions.”
READ: Lockdown: Government admits shortcomings, puts correctional measures in place
“As the lady has said,” he says as he shakes his head and gestures to Gelderbloem, “her mother is 85, but they were lucky enough to be dropped off here. What about our mothers who have to take taxis and probably are not really aware of the dangers of this virus?” he asks.
“They still have no choice. They must get up, and somehow get to a taxi rank to get there and back home without even realising the importance of hand sanitiser or a face mask at a time like this. With the crisis, the country is facing.”
Gumede’s sentiments come on the back of an announcement by Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula that “effective of March 30 until April 3, buses and taxis will be permitted to operate from 5am to 8pm in order to cater to the transportation needs of society’s most vulnerable.”
This, according to Mbalula, came after “a number of industry bodies made representations on the relaxation of hours that public transport vehicles are allowed to operate” on the days social grants would be paid.
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