May 4, 2005
By Lucky Sindane
ABOUT 100 000 Joburgers are to be registered by the City for financial help with municipal services, which will write off R1,5-billion in debts in the process.
The ambitious drive to register indigent households was launched in Chiawelo, Soweto, on Wednesday, 4 May by Executive Mayor Councillor Amos Masondo.
Hundreds of residents packed into a marquee the size of a soccer field at the Chiawelo People's Centre, where senior citizens were treated to a breakfast before the mayor's address.
Residents who did not want to miss the opportunity to register for the municipal services subsidy in the presence of the mayor, had brought along the required documents. Then, when Masondo said debts would be written off for those who qualified for the municipal services subsidy, the crowd ululated in approval.
For 50-year-old Elane Anders from Klipspruit West, who is more than R22 000 in debt to the City, the occasion was overwhelming. She could not hold back her tears when she heard the news. "I am very happy my debt will be written off. I am unemployed - that is why I could not pay the council."
Pensioner Rose Mphofu echoed her sentiments, saying R11 000 would be written off from her account. "I am very happy for that; I don't know what to say."
The Special Cases Policy adopted in October 2004 allows the City to write off all the money owed by people who are registered for the municipal services subsidy. The subsidy will cover the remaining charges of refuse removal and sanitation.
"It has taken us the better part of five months to plan the roll out of the scheme," said Mandy Jean Woods, the director of marketing and communications in the department of revenue. "It is very complex in the operational detail and we wanted to ensure that once the registration process began it would run smoothly.
"All applications will be assessed and registered on the spot. We have set up the new system so that it should not take more than 10 to 15 minutes to register," she added.
Johannesburg provides basic municipal services like six kilolitres of water a month free, 50kWh of electricity free a month and no charge for assessment rates for properties valued at less than R20 000.
Masondo said the subsidy meant that it was possible for the poor to have no charges on municipal accounts. "Today's registration drive completes the City's contribution to the social relief basket. Those who qualify will now also be entitled to a sewage and refuse subsidy."
About 58 people were registered during the City's testing period in April.
Who qualifies for the municipal services subsidy?
- An account holder who is a beneficiary of a national social security grant and has a total household income of less than two government pensions plus R1. For example, pensioners and people with disabilities.
- An account holder who receives a national social security grant and who lives with a partner who also receives a grant where the total family income is not more than the total of two government pensions plus R1. For example, two or more pensioners living in the same house.
- An account holder with a total household income of less than two government pensions plus R1. For example, someone who is unemployed or is employed part time or has a low income.
- Breadwinners who have HIV/Aids and/or their orphans who are account holders and receive a national social security grant and have a total household income of less than two government pensions plus R1.
According to the mayor an estimated 100 000 households qualified for this subsidy.
"We would like to encourage people to go and register at their nearest pay point during office hours. There will be special registration days in Soweto for the next month, followed by a rollout in other parts of the city," Masondo said.
When going to register people should take the following documents, or certified copies of the documents:
- a South African identity book;
- a copy of latest municipal account;
- proof of earnings;
- if unemployed, an affidavit from the South African Police Service confirming employment status;
- a national social security grant card (if applicable);
- a letter from the South African Revenue service confirming tax status; and
- a copy of the death certificate of the account holder (where applicable).
The subsidy is valid for 36 months, after which the account holder has to reapply.
Masondo also warned fraudsters, saying, "Let me caution you that people who are caught cheating this system will be deregistered from the Special Cases Policy programme and they will not be allowed to reapply for the subsidy for the next five years."
Fraudsters can be reported by calling the City's fraud hotline on 0800 002 587.
Permission to use web site material
Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as:
- Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website
(www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency
(www.joburg.org.za)";
- If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original
article on this website;
- The name of the article's author is acknowledged;
-
The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill
in this brief online form).
Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 |
