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City avails R3,75bn in rates and tariffs help in new financial year

<p>The City of Cape Town will avail R3,75 billion in rates and tariffs relief to qualifying residents in the new financial year, which starts on 1 July 2022.</p>

<ul><li><div style="text-align:left;">The City’s policies aim to accommodate and assist everyone according to their income level; unfortunately the City can’t provide blanket relief. </div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">The City offers rates and services relief, subsidised services to indigent residents and financial assistance in the form of interest free payment arrangements to residential and commercial customers who have been adversely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and national lockdown. </div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">All qualifying residents who are struggling to pay their municipal accounts should please approach the City for assistance as the City evaluates each case according to the circumstances and policies in place. </div></li></ul><p>‘It takes a well-run city to manage debt sustainably and ensure that the City remains healthy enough to deliver on its core mandate, which is the provision of basic services. All income from rates and tariffs is used for basic and essential service provision. With rising costs such as fuel and food prices, the City has endeavoured to keep tariffs and rates as affordable as possible, while continuing to enable a high standard of service delivery. We’d like to thank our customers who have been paying their municipal accounts, and helping us to deliver top notch services. The City has a payment ratio of about 98%, which means the majority of customers are paying their accounts. This shows that there is trust in the metro and its billing system, and demonstrates our sound financial management. For those who are struggling to make payments, there is help on offer. </p><p>‘In addition to the indigent and rates relief on offer, the City in 2021 embarked on a debt write-off and payment incentive project, whereby debt prior to 1 July 2018 was written off, on condition that an arrangement was entered into to pay more current debts. More than R2 billion in old debt has been written off thus far and some R2 billion is still available until 30 June 2022,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Finance, Councillor Siseko Mbandezi. <br> <br><strong>More about the debt write-off incentive</strong></p><ul><li><div style="text-align:left;">Customers are required to enter into a debt payment arrangement. </div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Outstanding debt older than 1 July 2018 will then be written off.</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">This incentive is only available until 30 June 2022.</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">After this date, in terms of recent amendments to the City’s Credit Control and Debt Collection Policy, historic debt may still be written off, but this will be at the sole discretion of the City Manager, and also contingent on a payment arrangement.</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Customers are encouraged to visit a Contact Centre to enter into a payment arrangement to benefit from this incentive. </div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">A condition of the payment arrangement is that the debt which is written-off, will be reinstated if customers default on their instalment plans.</div></li></ul><p><strong>Contacts:</strong><br><strong> </strong><br><strong>Debt write-off incentive</strong> <br>Visit: <a href="https://bit.ly/debtwrittenoff" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/debtwrittenoff</a> <br> <br><strong>For rates or services relief</strong><br>Visit: <a href="https://bit.ly/applyrelief" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/applyrelief</a> or a City customer office.<br>Email: <a href="mailto:indigent.relief@capetown.gov.za" target="_blank">indigent.relief@capetown.gov.za</a> <br> <br><strong>Pensioner rates relief</strong><br>Pensioners 60 years or older and people who receive social grants earning not more than R17 500 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 <a href="mailto:rates.rebate@capetown.gov.za" target="_blank">rates.rebate@capetown.gov.za</a>. For more information on how to apply for pensioner support: <a href="https://bit.ly/applyseniorsupport" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/applyseniorsupport</a><br> <br><strong>Rental housing relief</strong><br>If you are renting a community residential unit from the City, you may also apply for additional financial support if you are struggling to pay your rent and qualify for rental housing relief.<br>Human Settlements Directorate's Call Centre: 021 444 0333 or WhatsApp: 063 299 9927<br> <br><strong>For payment arrangements</strong><br>Visit: <a href="https://bit.ly/arrangepaymentplan" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/arrangepaymentplan</a> <br>Email: <a href="mailto:Payment.arrangements@capetown.gov.za" target="_blank">Payment.arrangements@capetown.gov.za</a><br> <br><strong>Businesses in financial hardship</strong> due to the economic pressure from the Covid-19 lockdown can approach the City for relief based on the merits of each application.<br>Email: <a href="mailto:Covid19.Relief@capetown.gov.za" target="_blank">Covid19.Relief@capetown.gov.za</a><br> <br> <br><strong>End</strong><br></p>

2022-05-31T22:00:00Z

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