Ward 81 councillor calls Johannesburg debt relief programme a failure
Residents who need help with municipal debt are being blocked by slow and broken systems at the City of Johannesburg, according to Ward 81 councillor Joanne Horwitz.
The City of Johannesburg’s debt relief programme is failing the people it is meant to help, because of serious problems in the city’s revenue department, Ward 81 councillor Joanne Horwitz has warned.
Horwitz pointed out that her office has received many complaints from residents who are struggling financially, but cannot access the debt relief programme.
The problem, she said, is that the city is taking too long to fix basic issues on municipal accounts, such as name changes, ownership updates, and billing errors.
She added that, in many cases, residents wait more than six months for simple account corrections to be processed. Because their details are not updated in time, they are then blocked from applying for debt relief, even though the delays are not their fault.
“Residents are doing the right thing and asking for help, but the system is letting them down. What is needed is a capable administration, so beneficiaries have trouble-free access to the benefits offered.”
She explained that, while the debt relief programme looks helpful on paper, it depends on a revenue department that is not working properly. This makes the programme difficult, and sometimes impossible, for residents to use.
Horwitz said debt relief should be more than just an announcement. “Debt relief must be accessible, functional, and fair in practice. Residents deserve a city that removes barriers, not one that creates them.”
She has called on the city to urgently fix the backlog in the revenue department, and improve its systems so that residents who qualify for debt relief can get the help they need without unnecessary delays.
Follow us on our WhatsApp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration!
