June 19, 2006
By Emmanuel Mulaudzi
SPECIAL registration days are currently being held for residents of Pioneer Park to sign on for the Reathusa Municipal Account Scheme, a scheme to help those struggling to pay municipal accounts.
The scheme is part of the revenue department's strategy to assist the indigent and poor in the city rehabilitate their municipal accounts and create a culture of payment.
It is available for people who earn a gross income of R6 500 or less a month.
In terms of the Reathusa scheme, residents who qualify will come to a formal arrangement with the City to repay half their debt and keep their current account up-to-date. Provided this is done for an agreed period, the remaining half of their debt will be written off.
"As the City we are saying Reathusa will meet you halfway. If you take responsibility for half of the debt you owe to the City we will write off the other half," Johannesburg's executive mayor Amos Masondo said at a function in Orlando earlier this year.
The revenue department's marketing and communication manager, Mandy Jean Woods, says: "This programme aims to create an incentive for these account holders to begin paying their accounts regularly (and) create a culture of paying for municipality accounts as a priority."
Extra staff will be on hand to help residents of Pioneer Park from 19 to 24 June at the City's municipal offices in Eurika House, on the corner of Glenroy and Opineer roads.
Residents in the south of Johannesburg are also urged to register for the Reathusa scheme. Special registration days for these communities will take place from 26 to 30 June in Lenasia. Those wishing to register can go to the Lenasia Civic Centre on the corner of Rose Avenue and Eland Street, Lenasia Ext 2 or to Lenasia South/ East Corobrick at 43 Road - Old Corobrick Complex 4.
Since the launch of the programme in May 2005, the City has helped over 120 000 indigent residents, and has written off more than R1,5-billion in arrears.
The rules for the Reathusa scheme are clear. Only the person earning the biggest income in a household (the breadwinner) may apply. The breadwinner must present the following documents when applying:
- A valid South African identity book;
- A valid recent payslip for themselves and their spouse;
- A recent copy of their bank statement; and
- A recent copy of their municipal account.
The scheme also requires the successful applicant to apply for pre-paid water and electricity meters within 12 months of the application being approved. The customer will pay the cost of the meter and the relevant utility company will pay installation costs.
"We believe the scheme will go a long way to assist customers who want to pay, but need assistance," says Woods, adding that it will rewarded residents for their commitment in meeting the requirements of the programme.
The municipal offices in Pioneer Park and Lenasia will be open from Monday to Friday between 7.30am and 7pm and on Saturday from 7.30am to 6pm during the special registration period.
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