The eThekwini Municipality continues to implement programmes that seeks to assist customers who are struggling to pay for their Municipal services and rates. Customers are therefore urged to approach their nearest Sizakala Centres or Customer Services, to settle their debts or enter into a payment plan with the Municipality.Customers may settle their debt, as outlined below:
• Covid-19 Payment Relief Programme and reversal of interest accrued
• Register for indigent support and receive free services
Covid-19 Payment Relief Programme and reversal of interest accrued A customer may benefit on the Covid-19 Relief Programme, wherein the debt is 90 days and older. The payment plan agreement entered into between the customer and the Municipality will not exceed 24 months and it is based on customer’s affordability. A down-payment of 5% for residential customers to 10% for business customers of the total debt may be required to be paid upfront, and the historical interest accumulated will be written off. No future interest will be raised on this debt until it is paid in full, provided the customer complies with the conditions of the agreement. This option is open for all customers of eThekwini Municipality, be it business or residential. The Covid 19 Payment Relief Programme will cease at the end of June 2021.
Covid 19 Special Rates Relief for Bed & Breakfast and Guesthouses Establishment The City further extends Covid-19 relief to the property owners of Bed & Breakfast and Guesthouses Establishments; set at an additional rebate of 14% and 39%, respectively and totaling 64% for each property category. Applicants are required to submit their applications in a prescribed form with the required documents. In addition to the set requirements, the applicant must be able to demonstrate by means of supporting documents to the satisfaction of the Chief Financial Officer or his delegate in terms of the approved System of Delegations that it has suffered and continues to suffer financial loss of more than 60% revenue.
Customers whose applications were approved for this relief before 30 June 2020, do not have to re-apply, as the relief will automatically continue until end of June 2021.The application forms are obtainable from www.durban.gov.za and all queries may be submitted to http://correspondence.durban.gov.za:200/.
This Covid 19 Special Rates Relief Programme will cease at the end of June 2021.Register for indigent support and receive free services Qualifying customers may apply for indigent support and be entered into the City’s indigent register. Customers who occupy properties valued at R500 000 and less may benefit in this programme and receive free monthly services such as:
• 6kl of water restricted by flow limiter;
• 150 kWh of electricity;
• Sewage and refuse disposal;
• Property rates exemption;
• Total write-off on historical debt;
• Exemption of interest on any future debt
Upon approval of the application, the customer will be entered into the City’s Indigent register for the duration of 2 years. The customer may re-apply, subject to meeting set requirements. Qualifying criteria
• Total household income must not exceed the amount determined by the Council, currently it is R3 600;
• Property maximum market value is R500 000
• The applicant must be a registered customer of the residential property;
• The applicant must convert to prepaid metering system;
• The applicant must complete a prescribed application form and attach all required documentation.
Peet du Plessis, Head of Revenue Management Unit, concluded, “We urge customers in debt to take advantage of our debt recovery programmes so that they are able to consistently pay their utility bill. This will eliminate the scenario of their debts escalating each month.”
