Rather pay monthly rental online than visiting a City housing office

15 January 2021

The City of Cape Town encourages customers to make use of the convenient online and retail payment options and only visit a housing office if there is no other option available. The Human Settlements Directorate has a call centre and WhatsApp number that customers may use for assistance. If customers need to visit a housing office, telephonic appointments must be made beforehand.  Remember the rule: no mask, no entry, strictly applies. Read more below:

If it is necessary to visit a housing office, please make an appointment before visiting. Customers may do so by phoning the relevant housing office ahead of visiting in person. Customers may also phone a housing office to see whether their service request can be completed telephonically. This assists with managing high volumes, especially on busy days, helping us all to adhere to COVID-19 health and safety requirements and to prevent the spread of the virus. We thank our customers for their patience during this time.
 
Due to the COVID-19 resurgence, the City will ensure that all COVID-19 health and safety protocols are in place and adhered to for the safety of City staff and members of the public. However, if your business can be conducted via the convenient online and retail options, please do so. If visiting an office is required, it is best to contact the housing office beforehand to see if the service request can be dealt with telephonically, or to make an appointment. The City Human Settlement’s Directorate’s WhatsApp line can also be used.
 
The City thanks its customers for contributing their fair share as income from rental payments is used to maintain the rental units. Those who are in financial difficulties must approach us. Hoping that debt will go away or ignoring the problem, is not the answer and there is help on offer. As a caring City, we make allowance for residents who are unable to pay to apply to the City for relief. Those who are struggling to pay are advised to make an appointment to visit their local housing office where they can make arrangements to pay off their arrears.  It is then imperative that the amount due is paid regularly, every month, to ensure that the relief granted and the arrangement that has been made is not cancelled and to avoid debt management action against customers.
 
‘We encourage customers to use the convenient telephonic and WhatsApp assistance, online and retail payment options that are on offer. Only visit when absolutely necessary, so that we curb the spread of COVID-19 especially during the resurgence and the rapidly climbing infection rate. Please phone your housing office to make an appointment before planning your trip and to find out if your service request can be dealt with telephonically.
 
‘The City thanks customers for making their rental payments throughout the year and especially during the festive period. The rental payments are used for the important maintenance and upgrades of the rental units. Our Public Housing Department has spent close to R1 billion in maintenance and upgrades to its Community Residential Units (CRUs). This includes the intricate work on fixing and replacing staircases and urgent work continues.
 
‘Customers who are in financial difficulty should approach us so that relief options can be investigated and payment arrangements can be made where possible,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, Councillor Malusi Booi.
 
The City’s Public Housing Department continues to experience severe repair work backlogs, primarily due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and we are trying our best to work through it as soon as possible. The health and safety of our residents and staff is our priority and we urge residents to please be patient while we attend to the most urgent cases first. We thank our residents for their patience while staff are carrying out the work.

City housing office contact details are as follows:

For City-rental payments:
•                Online: www.easypay.co.za or www.powertime.co.za
•                EFTs: Select the City as a bank-listed beneficiary. Use only your nine-digit municipal account number as reference
•                Retailers: Shoprite, Checkers, USave, Pick n Pay, PEP, Ackermans, Lewis, Top It Up, Woolworths and selected Spar shops
•                ATM: contact your bank to add the City as an ATM beneficiary
 
Please remember:
No mask, no entry at all City facilities.
Please make use of the City’s convenient online account and service offerings to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
 
Contact us:
Human Settlements Directorate’s Call Centre: 021 444 0333 or send a WhatsApp to 063 299 9927
Visit www.capetown.gov.za for more information.
 
A number of transactions can be completed at the offices including:
•       logging service requests such as maintenance
•       applying for indigent relief grants
•       making arrangements for debt repayment on accounts
•       applying for transfer of tenancy
•       signing of lease agreements
•       applying to renew lease agreements
•       the use of the free call lines in foyers
 
What to expect when visiting an office:
•       COVID-19 screening at the entrances
•       Limited number of customers allowed in at a time, if applicable
•       Only customers wearing masks will be allowed entry into our offices
•       Social distancing is required and must be adhered to
•       Limited daily transactions, please make an appointment
 
The elderly and disabled will be given preference.
 

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office