The City of Cape Town has a comprehensive package of financial relief options available for residents who might need assistance.
Financial assistance includes a debt write-off incentive, relief for tenants, some R3,4 billion available for indigent relief and assistance in the form of no interest payment arrangements.
“Those who cannot pay their municipal accounts should please approach the City for assistance as it is important that we continue to support residents who are struggling financially,” Mayco member for finance Siseko Mbandezi says. “There is an excellent payment ratio, which indicates most ratepayers are able to pay their accounts. Without the revenue from rates and services, we would not be able to provide services.”
However, Mbandezi says the municipality is sympathetic to residents who struggle financially. “In Cape Town, the City helps more than 40% of our households with free basic services. We also provide no-interest payment arrangements and debt write-off initiatives to ensure that we assist our customers, while also encouraging a culture of payment.”
For this assistance, residents need to approach the City.
The debt write-off relief, where customers enter into a payment arrangement with the benefit of having their outstanding debt that is older than 1 July 2018 written off, will only be available until 30 June 2022.
For rates or services relief email indigent.relief@capetown.gov.za, pensioners who are 60 years old and above can email rates.rebate@capetown.gov.za, residents seeking rental housing relief can call the human settlements directorate on 021 444 0333 or WhatsApp 063 299 9927. For payment arrangements email Payment.arrangements@capetown.gov.za.
