It could take 2–3 months for pensioners’ rebates to reflect on bill
Those who applied at Danie van Zyl Recreation Centre last month are reassured by the city that their applications are in and being processed.
Last month pensioners were assisted by the city to register for rebates, or savings, on their monthly municipal accounts.
The Danie van Zyl Recreation Centre was bustling with activity as City of Johannesburg officials and the police assisted the elderly in applying for the rebate on a specially arranged day. Applications close on September 30.
Faryl Posnik lives in Westdene and was one such pensioner.
“I handed my documentation and certified ID copy to a man who was helping. He looked through my papers and said everything was in order and that I would receive a confirmation SMS soon.
“To date, I have not received a reference number – yet I hear that pensioners who went to call centres on ordinary days immediately received their reference numbers. So why not for a special pensioner’s day? How do I even prove I handed my paperwork in?
“I am very upset and angry, as now I have to repeat the application process before the end of September when applications close.”
Another resident Harriet Meier is in the same boat and said, “I am not the only one in this situation. We are all getting concerned as we have absolutely no proof that we were there and that our applications were submitted.”
No reference numbers were provided on the day.
Deputy director for stakeholder relations in the revenue department Jabu Dhlamini said at the time that it would take some time for all applications to be captured. “We have had a high number of applications, but I assure residents that we have their paperwork and will finalise this process as quickly as possible.”
She assured applicants that they do not need to reapply nor worry if they have not heard from the city yet. “This process may take two to three months to be finalised. Whoever has applied will have relevant costs backdated to July 1. We have all the paperwork and careful records of everyone who came through and applied.”
Kgamanyane Maphologela, director of communications and stakeholder relations for the City of Johannesburg previously said, “Those who apply within this window [ending September 30] will have their rebates backdated to July 1, when existing rebates lapsed. Should pensioners apply after then, the rebate will be applied and approved from the date of application,”
Related article:
Pensioner scammed out of almost R1million in sophisticated ruse spanning four years
