City Indigent Support Drive heading to your area

03 October 2023

The City’s Indigent Support Drive continues this week in areas across the metro. Our team of experts will be in a number of communities across the metro to offer assistance and help qualifying residents to complete their applications. Residents who are struggling are encouraged to visit and apply for support when we reach their area in the coming weeks. 

The City is assisting households with an income of R7 500 or less per month with support. These households could benefit from debt write offs if they have not received a once-off write-off already, access free basic services and qualify for a 100% discount on their property rates.

The City offers South Africa's highest allocation of free water at 15kl, the highest allocation of free sanitation at 10,5kl, up to 60 free electricity units, and among the highest levels of support of all metros linking social relief to property value.

The City's Indigent Support campaign will be in your area:

Expanded qualifying threshold for pensioners and social grant recipients

'The City has expanded the qualifying threshold for pensioners and social grant recipients to enable additional residents to benefit from the Lifeline tariff and rates rebates, with the qualifying limit now increased to a monthly income of R22 000, up from R17 500. The City has also increased the social support package to R4,3 billion in total for rates and services relief for 2023/24.

'More than 210 000 residents receive indigent support and we urge more residents to make use of this opportunity for assistance in 2023 as we have allocated a total of R4,3 billion for our social support to help struggling qualifying residents and pensioners.

'We encourage residents to inform their family members, neighbours and loved ones about the indigent support on offer and to approach the City for help. Our team of officials will be coming to your community to help you. We will communicate on additional dates and areas for October and November soon,' said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Finance, Councillor Siseko Mbandezi.

Once they have registered as indigent, successful applicants need only re-apply every 12 months from the date of approval

However, applications from residents 60 years and older, will remain valid until the next municipal valuation of their property comes into effect, which is expected to be from 30 June 2026 or until a supplementary valuation is implemented.

Residents may qualify for indigent support if they:

•               are a homeowner

•               earn R7 500 or less per month

•               own only one property

•               are the full-time occupant of the home

•               use the home mainly for residential purposes

•               are a child who lives in the home of a parent who has passed away

•               received the house in a divorce settlement

•               depend on a pension or a social grant for their livelihood

Applicants will need:

•               proof of identification (ID book/card or passport)

•               a bank statement for the last three months or a sworn affidavit stating that they do not have a bank account

•               a bond statement for the last three months or a sworn affidavit stating that they do not have a bond account

•               a copy of the estate documents if the applicant has inherited his or her house

If residents are employed, they must also include:

•               latest salary/wage pay slip or a letter from an employer stating their income

•               a sworn affidavit if they are self-employed stating how much is earned per month

•               proof if a disability grant, maintenance grant or pension is received

If residents are unemployed, they must include the following in the application:

•               a sworn affidavit stating that they are unemployed

•               a sworn affidavit stating that they have no other source of income

Useful contacts and information:

For rates or services relief

•               Visit: https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Apply/Financial-relief-and-rebates/Individuals/Apply-for-indigent-rates-relief or a City customer office.

•               Email: indigent.relief@capetown.gov.za  

Pensioner rates relief

•               Pensioners 60 years or older and people who receive social grants or a pension amounting to no more than R22 000 may qualify for a rates rebate of between 10% and 100%. They are invited to go to the nearest City customer care office or send an email to rates.rebate@capetown.gov.za

•               For more information on how to apply for pensioner support: https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Apply/Financial-relief-and-rebates/Individuals/Apply-for-senior-citizen-support  

For payment arrangements

•               Visit: https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Pay/Municipal-accounts/Electricity/arrange-a-payment-plan-for-debt-collection

•               Email: Payment.arrangements@capetown.gov.za

For a list of the City's Cash Offices and Walk-in Centres, please visit: https://www.capetown.gov.za/Explore%20and%20enjoy/See-all-City-facilities/Our-service-facilities/Walk-in%20centres

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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office