Polokwane indigent arrears to be cancelled, no cut-offs

Following the July meeting of the Polokwane municipal council indigent households received the news that all their historic accounts for water and electricity are to be cancelled.
The decision was made at a marathon council meeting that commenced at 10:00 and was only adjourned in the early hours of the next morning, after more than 14 hours of deliberation.
Council further resolved that prepaid water and electricity meters will be installed at all indigent households and that no cut-offs of services will be effected, provided that indigents comply with the provisions of the indigent policy. All previously discontinued services will also be reconnected.
Municipal policy determines that indigent households are those that have a combined income not exceeding R3 500 per month. Households have to apply to be registered as indigents.
The parties in council did not oppose the motion of exigency that was proposed by the African National Congress, however, the Democratic Alliance (DA) supported the motion leading to the resolution on condition that the prepaid meters be installed. DA councillor, Franco Marx explained that this would ensure that indigents consuming water and electricity in excess of the free basic allowance, will pay for additional usage.
The free basic allowance for urban indigents is currently 6 kilolitres of water and 100 kWh of electricity per month.

Story: BARRY VILJOEN
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