Rates relief for some households, hijacked properties will be disconnected by the City

The City of Joburg has offered relief to households that are financially pressed.

This follows the recent passing of the amended Control and Debt Collection Policy by the City of Joburg Council on August 31.

According to a released statement by MMC for Finance, Councillor Julie Suddaby, the new policy states that whenever a new service account is opened with the City, the account holder must pay a deposit. All residents, sectional title holders and business properties must pay a deposit equal to two months’ deemed water and electricity consumption.

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The policy also seeks to increase the efforts against electricity and water theft by making it a criminal offence to connect to the City’s services illegally.

“The illegal connection and/or tampering with water or electricity supply is a criminal offence, which may result in legal action being taken against the offending customers,” stated the release.

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Other significant amendments to the policy are:

• All account holders who are Extended Social Package (ESP) grant beneficiaries are exempted from paying a security deposit.
• All customers who receive pensioner’s rebates are exempted from paying a security deposit
• All customers with a property value not exceeding R500 000 are exempted from paying a security deposit.
• A person registered as an indigent under the City’s Expanded Social Package will be entitled to the relief and benefits afforded under the City’s Expanded Social Package terms and conditions.
• Services to hijacked/abandoned properties shall be restricted or disconnected upon non-payment of an account for services to the property or at the request of the owner of the building.
• Payment Arrangement: The balance will be payable over a mutually/or agreed period as prescribed by the City.
• A domestic customer who cannot afford to pay a deposit may still be assisted with a payment arrangement if they can provide the necessary proof of their financial distress.
• The City reserves the right to request a minimum 50% down payment in respect of payment arrangements concluded with non-domestic customers and a balance payable over less than three months.

For more on these amendments, read more here.

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