Free services for Joburg's poor
Lucky Sindane
6 May 2005
Homes headed by children, disabled people, orphans and those with HIV/Aids stand to benefit from a Johannesburg debt-cancellation drive and water and sanitation subsidy. Some 100 000 of the Gauteng city's people will be registered for financial help with municipal services, while R1.5-billion in municipal debt will be written off.
The ambitious drive to register indigent households was launched on Wednesday in Chiawelo, Soweto by Executive Mayor Amos Masondo.
Hundreds of residents, many of whom had brought with them the documents required for registration, packed into a marquee the size of a soccer field at the Chiawelo People's Centre.
When Masondo said debts would be written off for those who qualified, the crowd ululated in approval.
Elane Anders (50) of Klipspruit West, who owes over R22 000 to the city, could not hold back her tears when she heard the news. "I am very happy my debt will be written off. I am unemployed - that is
why I could not pay the council."
The Special Cases Policy, adopted in October 2004, allows the city to write off all money owed by people registered for the municipal services subsidy. The subsidy will cover the remaining charges of refuse removal and sanitation.
"It has taken us the better part of five months to plan the roll out of the scheme", said Mandy Jean Woods, director of marketing and communications in the city's department of revenue.
"All applications will be assessed and registered on the spot. We have set up the new system so that it should not take more than 10 to 15 minutes to register."
Every month Johannesburg provides its residents with six kilolitres of water and 50kWh of electricity for free. No municipal rates are charged on properties valued at under R20 000.
Masondo said the subsidy meant it was possible for the poor to have no charges on municipal accounts. "Today's registration drive completes the city's contribution to the
social relief basket. Those who qualify will now also be entitled to a sewage and refuse subsidy."
According to the mayor, an estimated 100 000 households qualify for the subsidy.
"We would like to encourage people to register at their nearest pay point during office hours", he said. "There will be special registration days in Soweto for the next month, followed by a rollout in other parts of the city."
The subsidy is valid for 36 months, after which the account holder has to reapply. About 58 people were registered during the city's testing period in April.
Masondo issued a warning to fraudsters, however, saying: "Let me caution you that people who are caught cheating this system will be deregistered and will not be allowed to reapply for the subsidy for the next five years."
Fraudsters can be reported on the city's fraud hotline, 0800 002 587.
HOW JOBURGERS CAN APPLY
Who qualifies for the subsidy?
- An account
holder who is a beneficiary of a national social security grant and has a total household income of less than two government pensions plus R1. This would include pensioners and people with disabilities.
- An account holder who receives a national social security grant and who lives with a partner who also receives a grant where the total family income is not more than the total of two government pensions plus R1. This would include two or more pensioners living in the same house.
- An account holder with a total household income of less than two government pensions plus R1 - for example, someone unemployed, employed part time or with a low income.
- Breadwinners who have HIV/Aids and/or orphans who are account holders and receive a national social security grant and have a total household income of less than two government pensions plus R1.
What documents are needed?
When going to register people should take the following documents, or
certified copies of the documents:
- A South African identity book.
- A copy of latest municipal account.
- Proof of earnings.
- If unemployed, an affidavit from the South African Police Service confirming employment status.
- A national social security grant card (if applicable).
- A letter from the South African Revenue service confirming tax status.
- A copy of the death certificate of the account holder (where applicable).
Source: City of Johannesburg
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