City provides financial relief measures for consumers

The City of Ekurhuleni’s (CoE) finance department has implemented numerous debt relief measures for consumers in light of the Covid-19 pandemic with account management.

While maintaining the sustainability of council, this is to assist financially distressed residents to cope during these trying times. It has recommended the suspension of interest on current arrears debt, payment extensions, debt repayment arrangements and suspension of pre-termination and final notice fees.

It has also recommended a consideration of reduction or no increase on assessment rates tariffs for 2020 to 2021. It again recommended a free basic energy for lapsed indigent beneficiaries during the lockdown period.

The suspension of levying of interest on all debt accrued as from April 1, 2020, for a period of six months until September 30 was also recommended.

This is in terms of Section 5.4 (c) of the Credit Council and Debt Collection Policy. Payment extensions can be granted for a maximum period of 90 days from date of application. It may be extended on a month-to-month basis for a period determined by the accounting officer or a delegated official.

Terms of debt repayment arrangements allows for a maximum of three payment arrangement defaults and down payments.

Fees regarding pre-termination and final notice fees are electricity pre-termination notice costs R130.54, while water pre-termination notice costs R143.30 and assessment rates final notice sums up to an amount of R139.77. It must be noted that these implemented recommendations will have an impact on the CoE, such as a reduction in revenue collection.