Low-income households eligible for free municipal services

The Tshwane metro is calling on low-income households across its seven regions to register for free municipal basic services through the Indigent Programme.

The initiative aims to improve the lives of residents who are unable to pay for municipal services due to their socio-economic status.

According to MMC for Community and Social Development Services, Palesa Modise, the Indigent Programme aligns with the national government’s initiative to address poverty and unemployment, providing basic services to the most vulnerable citizens.

To be eligible for the programme, Modise said households must meet specific registration criteria, including a total monthly income not exceeding the joint pensions of two old-age state pensioners.

“The registration period of an indigent household is 24 months, after which the household will be required to re-register, if it still meets the registration criteria, by visiting one of the Indigent Programme intake centres.”

She said currently, the metro has just over 145 000 indigent households on its register.

Modise urged customers who meet the following registration criteria to apply:

– Your total monthly household income, excluding child support grants and foster care grants, is not more than the joint pensions of two old-age state pensioners.

– Neither you nor any other member of your household owns fixed property other than the property at where you reside.

– You are 18 years or older, unless you are appointed to executorship by a court of law.

– You reside at the property for which you are applying, unless you are a legal guardian applying on behalf of a child-headed household.

– You are the registered owner of the property for which you are applying or a municipal tenant as defined in the Indigent Policy.

– You are an occupant of a property belonging to North West Housing Corporation or the City of Tshwane.

– You have a services account with the City of Tshwane.

– You are a South African citizen.

Modise said once registered, indigent households qualify for the following free basic services:

– 12kL of free water per month
– 100 kWh of free electricity per month
– Free dustbin for refuse removal
– 100% rebate on the value of the property and refuse removal
– Writing off of arrears accumulated at registration
– Provision and free connection of a prepaid electricity meter.

To register, Modise advised locals to visit the following Indigent Programme intake centres:

– Region 3 & 4: Room 306B, The Square Offices, Sammy Marks (Mondays-Fridays, 07:30-15:30)

– Pretoria West: Atteridgeville Thusong Service Centre (Mondays-Tuesdays, 07:30-15:30)

– Pretoria east: Mamelodi Thusong Service Centre (Mondays-Tuesdays, 07:30-15:30)

– Temba: Temba Council Offices (Tuesdays, 08:00-15:30)

– Hammanskraal: Hammanskraal Community Hall (Mondays, 08:00-15:30)

– Soshanguve: Bodibeng Library (Tuesdays, 08:00-15:00)

– Ga-Rankuwa: Customer Care Centre (Mondays-Tuesdays, 08:00-15:30)

– Akasia: Akasia Council Chamber (Mondays, 08:00-15:30)

– Mabopane: Revenue Office (Mondays, 08:00-15:00)

– Zithobeni: Municipal Building (Mondays-Wednesdays, 07:30-16:00)

– Laudium: Laudium Community Centre (Tuesdays, 07:30-13:00)

– Refilwe: Refilwe Housing Office (Thursdays, 08:00-12:30).

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