POLOKWANE – The municipality has postponed the deadline before which people can register for the municipal indigent programme to June 23.
This programme is for people who cannot afford to pay their municipal accounts.
“During a drive to consult with residents having problems with their municipal accounts, it came to my attention that many people truly could not afford to pay their municipal accounts,” Polokwane mayor Freddy Greaver said on Tuesday during a press conference.
“The indigent programme is there to assist these people.”
Greaver said to qualify for the programme, a household’s joint income should not exceed R5 400 per month.
He said these households would qualify for six kilolitres of water and 100kWh electricity free of charge. Over and above this, these households will not pay for refuse removal or service connections and, should their houses be valued at R100 000 or less, no assessment rates would have to be paid.
Registered indigents’ municipal debts until June 30 2013 would be written off, with effect from July 1. The remaining amount outstanding up to the end of this financial year (June 30), could be paid off after arrangements were made with the municipality, Greaver explained.
“Water and electricity are expensive commodities,” Greaver said.
“People should know that they must exercise caution and reduce their consumption thereof. Having rooms in the backyard that were rented out to increase their income could mean that more water and electricity were consumed than were allowed free of charge. When the indigent limit was exceeded, registered indigents would have to pay the excess, which could amount to more than the rent they collected,” he added.
“Indigent status is not a historical factor,” Greaver emphasised. “It is a reflection of the current status of a household and not limited to gardeners or domestic workers or people who receive grants only. If you are jobless and can prove it, and if the total household income does not exceed R5 400, you can be registered as indigent for the period of unemployment.”
He said the key to the programme was responsible usage of the benefits. Some R50 million was budgeted for the programme. Currently 4 760 households had been registered as indigent and the municipality aimed to reach 10 000 households. An estimated R29 million debt would be written off. Prepaid users could also be accommodated in the programme, he said.
Application forms are available at the main municipal building on the corner of Landdros Maré and Bodenstein Street, as well as municipal cluster offices.
The Indigent Support Policy and registration forms will also be made available on the municipal website, www.polokwane.gov.za.
