Hello-RITA! New bot helps qualifying Cape Town residents renew their municipal benefits – fast and easy

14 July 2026

Pensioners, social grant recipients and qualifying indigent residents who’ve been receiving rates rebates and indigent relief from the City must reapply if they have not yet done so. Those who need to reapply or renew will be contacted via SMS or email from this week onwards with the link to an innovative new multi-language WhatsApp chatbot called Hello-RITA! It’s only for renewals, not new applications at this stage.

Hello-RITA! is a new City WhatsApp chatbot designed to assist qualifying residents with the renewal of rates rebates and indigent grant applications. This innovative service is limited to renewals at this stage but is foreseen to expand to a full-service rates rebate and indigent offering in due course. 
 
Hello-RITA! is available in English, Afrikaans and isiXhosa. 
 
How it works – Hello-RITA! renewals for rates rebate and indigent support

1. The qualifying resident will receive an SMS or email message with their account number from this week onwards. 

2. They will be asked to click on the embedded link provided. 

3. The link will open to a series of prompts to enable the user to complete the reapplication. 

4. The chat is open for 24 hours. Should a user not complete the application in this timeframe, they will need to start over.

5. If they have all of the required supporting documentation available, the application can typically be completed in 30 minutes or less. 

View a list of the documents required in English, isiXhosa and Afrikaans.
 
To verify the email or SMS received from the City please contact the City’s Call Centre: 0860 103 089. 
 
As always, for rates rebate and/or indigent support renewals, qualifying residents may contact rates.rebate@capetown.gov.za and indigent.relief@capetown.gov.za or they may visit their nearest Customer Interaction Centre to conclude the renewal application.
 
Grace periods and cut off dates for applications:

Rates rebates – renewals (every three years after a new General Valuation)

• APPLIED FOR RENEWAL BEFORE 1 JULY 2026: 
  
  • All pensioners and social grant recipients who applied for the renewal of their benefits before 1 July 2026 will continue to receive their discounts even if their applications have not yet been finalised. 
• AFTER 1 JULY 2026:
  
  • The renewal application process must be completed before 31 August 2026. Until the application is approved, they will not receive rates discounts on their monthly municipal bill. 

Rates rebate new applications:

Applicants may send an email to rates.rebate@capetown.gov.za to apply. View a list of the documents required in English, isiXhosa and Afrikaans.

Indigent support

• APPLIED FOR RENEWAL BEFORE 1 JULY 2026: 
  
  • Qualifying indigent residents who applied for the renewal of their benefits before 1 July 2026 will continue to receive their discounts even if their applications have not yet been finalised. 
• AFTER 1 JULY 2026: 
  
  • Apply for assistance before 30 December 2026.
  • Backdating of benefits to 1 July 2026 will be considered for beneficiaries aged 60 years and older.
  • Until the application is approved, applicants will not receive indigent benefits on their monthly municipal bill. 

Indigent new applications

Applicants may send a mail to indigent.relief@capetown.gov.za to apply. View a list of the documents required in English, isiXhosa and Afrikaans. 
 
For payment arrangements: payment.arrangements@capetown.gov.za

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office