July 17, 2006
By Thabang Mokoka
ORANGE Farm residents who owe the City for unpaid municipal fees have been urged to register for the Reathusa municipal account scheme.
Registration for the scheme, which allows low-income earners to pay off a part of their debt and apply to have services arrears written off, will be taking place from Monday 17 to Saturday 22 July at the Orange Farm rent office in Extension 4.
"The municipal offices at the Orange Farm Rent Office, 15 747 Orange Farm, Extension 4 will be open from Monday to Friday 7.30am to 7pm and on Saturday 7.30am to 6pm during the special registration period from 17 to 22 July 2006," says the City's revenue department spokesperson, Mandy Jean Woods.
According to Woods, the registration days simply mean that additional staff is on hand to assist with enquiries and registration, and the offices are open for longer hours to accommodate working customers.
The poverty alleviation programme, which is aimed at assisting its indigent and poor ''to rehabilitate their municipal accounts and create a culture of payment'', targets people who have municipal accounts with the City and earn a gross income of R6 500 or less per month.
According to a press release, customers who qualify need to conclude a formal repayment arrangement for half their debt as well as keeping their current account up to date. If they stick to this for the period agreed to and pay their arrears, they will then have their remaining half of their debt written off.
Rules of the scheme have been kept ''simple'' so that the maximum number of people can apply. Persons earning the most income in a household (the breadwinner) may apply and need to have the following documents:
- valid green SA identity book;
- valid, recent payslip for themselves and their spouse;
- recent copy of their bank statement;
- recent copy of their municipal account.
The account has to be in the name of the person registering for the scheme. The customer can simply present themselves at any of the City's regional offices and they will be assisted to see if they qualify for the scheme and then to register.
Executive mayor Amos Masondo launched the second phase of this programme at the beginning of February 2006.
The Municipal Services Subsidy Scheme first phase got under way in May 2005. By June, before Pioneer Park residents were to register for the scheme, over 120 000 indigent residents were helped and R1, 5-billion in arrears was written off.
The scheme also requires that the successful applicant apply for pre-paid water and electricity meters within 12 months of their application being approved. Application for pre-paid water meters will be in accordance with Johannesburg Water's implementation plan.
Failure to comply with these requirements will mean arrangements with the City will be cancelled and credit control will be applied.
"We believe the scheme will go a long way to assist customers who want to pay, but need assistance," said Woods.
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