Debt rehab programme criteria amended for CoJ customers
The programme will ease the debt burden of qualifying customers.
In the fourth meeting of the Joburg City Council, amendments to the debt rehabilitation programme criteria were passed unopposed.
This was in response to feedback from CoJ customers who have been applying for the programme since applications reopened on March 1.
During the City’s marketing campaign for the programme, feedback from customers was received through various channels like the customer service centres, the various region’s revenue offices, direct engagement with customers on region open days, and the office of the MMC for Finance.
MMC Julie Suddaby said, “In our engagements with small business owners, NGOs, churches, old age homes and body corporates, we heard that many of our customers have been hard hit by the pandemic.
“While the economy is slowly mending, they have expressed their needs regarding their outstanding accounts with the City. The mayoral priority that the City cares about is real to this administration, and we have responded positively to the call from our customers to be cared for. I believe that we have acted in the best interests of both the City and our customers in the adoption of these amendments.”
CoJ customers asked the City to address these qualifying criteria:
• The property market value threshold
• Debt being reduced in segments
The Council has passed the following amendments to phase three of the debt rehab programme with immediate effect:
• The property value that qualifies now is less than R2.5m – up from less than R1.5m.
• People with a letter of authority from the master of the high court in the case of a deceased estate may now also apply.
• Old age homes, orphanages and Body Corporates may now also apply.
• And the biggest change in the benefits is that 100% of the 90-day debt will be written off if the applicant is a pensioner or registered as indigent on the City’s database.
“The adopted amendments for the programme go a long way to reducing the stress of our customers. The programme will ease the debt burden of qualifying customers as they work to get back on their feet financially, and it will provide a basis for the rehabilitation of the City’s debtors over the next three years.
“This translates into an improved debt collection mandate, better liquidity and ultimately enhanced service delivery. These amendments are a win-win for all of Johannesburg,” Suddaby concluded.
