Municipality takes finance office to the people

Rand West City Local Municipality (RWCLM) Executive Mayor Gladys Khoza is hitting the ground running by taking services to the people.

This is through having the finance department set up a mobile office at the different locations where the Mayor’s Ntirhisano Service Delivery Fridays will be taking place, every week. This set up will allow residents to inquire about their municipal accounts and make arrangements where necessary, especially for existing debt.

It is also aimed at encouraging indigents to apply and be placed on the indigent register. You have to, however, qualify for relief (See far below).

Speaking to the Herald in an interview, Khoza said she hoped that this will encourage residents to settle their accounts and enquire about initiatives that the department has in place which will ensure compliance.

“While doing the Ntirhisano Service Delivery Fridays, I came to realise that there is this programme that I need to rope in which is credit control. In the credit control we also focus on indigent registration. You will understand that there are those people who will not be able to pay the municipality for services, so those people are catered for through the indigent policy.

“What is happening is that the department of finance goes to the Ntirhisano Service Delivery Fridays and set up their systems so that they assist those people. They also support the initiative by deploying staff to assist customers to make payment arrangements for accounts which are in arrears.

”This is in addition to attending to queries on site. If these queries cannot be resolved, then residents will be encouraged to exercise the correct platforms,” said Khoza who added that she will rope in other departments that will cater to people’s needs as the programme progresses.

She added that this has been greatly welcomed by residents and that it is a much-needed service within the different communities.

According to her, this also gives her and her office an opportunity to interact with residents and get a sense of how they can improve service delivery in the different areas.

Indigents are encouraged to apply to be placed on the indigent register during the initiative by bringing the following information in application for the relief:

The applicant must bring with the application, the following documents:

• Certified ID Copies of all property owners as per deeds registry. Marriage certificate/divorce decree where applicable.
• Proof of income
• Affidavits confirming indigent status
• SASSA confirmation letter
• School reports, birth certificates
• Certified copies of death certificate and letter of authority
• Municipal account
• Recent prepaid electricity slip

The municipality offers the following relief to qualifying indigents (monthly):

• Free property rates charge up to property market value of R450 000
• Free 6kl of water monthly
• Free 50 units of electricity monthly
• Free sewerage disposal monthly
• Free Refuse collections monthly

Criteria for approval is as follows:

• Household income of less than R4 500 per month (this excludes all state social grants that the applicants receive)
• Have an rates and/or services account with the municipality
• Applicant must not own more than one property
• Applicant must reside on the property
• Applicant must be RSA Citizen
• Property used for residential purpose only (No business and no vacant land)

Credit Control Arrangement:

The finance office also supports the initiative by deploying staff to assist customers to make repayment arrangements for accounts in arrears.

Customers must bring the following documents when making arrangements on arrears:

• Proof of income (eg, Pay Slip)
• Three months’ bank statements
• Affidavit acknowledging amount in arrears
• If tenant, letter of permission from owner of property
• Certified ID Copy
• Minimum payment of recent current account

Arrangements will be made to the level that the customer can afford to pay based on income. Credit control enquiries can be directed to credit.control@randwestcity.gov.za.

Queries that cannot be resolved on site will be referred to the relevant department for intervention and further assistance.

Customers can visit their local municipal offices or by send an email to account.enquiries@randwestcity.gov.za.