Over 112 000 Ekurhuleni residents benefit from the indigent package offered by the City of Ekurhuleni.
Speaking at the latest council meeting, executive mayor Mzwandile Masina said the City continued to shoulder the cost of R4-billion for this social package.
“It is a commitment we made in our pro-poor programme when we assumed office,” Masina said.
“The City of Ekurhuleni has always been deeply committed to maintaining the dignity of its residents. Our previous State of the City Address centred around the necessity of dignity in service provision, making the argument that our pursuit for economic development and growth is intrinsically linked to our pursuit for the realisation of dignity for our people and a better life for all.
“It is in this vein that the social package we provide to the most disenfranchised of our people is a key priority to us. On an annual basis, we continue to intensify awareness campaigns with a view of increasing the number of indigent households in all wards, including mass indigent campaigns.
“The implementation of the electronic indigent registration system and use of hand-held devices are improving efficiency in terms of application turnaround times and the validation of physical verification processes by field workers,” said Masina. To date, many indigent households have been registered of which nearly 50 000 were registered through the indigent management system.
The social package of indigent relief is made up as follows:
• 100 per cent rebate on assessment rates;
• Free refuse removal;
• First 100kWh of electricity a month is free. This is more than the provision made by the national government policy and the City bears the costs for the difference;
• First 9kl of water and sewer a month is free;
• Special rates on emergency services such as ambulance and firefighting; and
• Free indigent burial.
The income threshold to be registered as an indigent is R5 090 or less per household.
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