City extends deadline to register for rates rebates

Residents who need assistance to pay monthly municipal accounts have until Thursday, 31 October 2013 to apply for special rates rebates from the City of Cape Town.

Senior citizens, 60 years and older, as well as recipients of a disability grant or pension, could qualify for rates rebates ranging between 10% and 100%.

This year, the City has budgeted R1,97 billion to help poor and vulnerable citizens.

“We know that there are many people in our city who struggle to pay their municipal accounts. The City of Cape Town is committed to assisting them as far as we are able. This is part of our efforts towards redress and building a truly Caring City,” says the City’s Executive Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Finance, Alderman Ian Neilson.

The upper limit of total household income for these two categories has also been raised from R10 500 to R12 000 per month.

In addition, property owners with a total household income of R3 000 or less per month may apply to be registered as indigent, and may qualify for a 100% rates and refuse rebate. Their arrears may also be written off once during occupation of the property.

In addition to the full rates rebate on households earning R3 500 or less per month or whose residential properties are valued at R200 000 or less, the City has added new indigent categories for people who have an income greater than R3 500 and not more than R5 000
per month.

If a total household income is between:

• R3 501 and R4 000, residents will receive a 75% rates rebate
• R4 001 and R4 500, residents will receive a 50% rates rebate
• R4 501 and R5 000, residents will receive a  25% rates rebate

“We call on community leaders to assist potential beneficiaries in registering for this financial assistance. The rebates start from the date that the City receives applications and remain valid until the end of June next year. To date, some 9 922 people have registered, but we know that there are many more who can take advantage of this financial lifeline,” says Alderman Neilson.

Residents who registered for financial relief in the past, need to re-register to prove that the circumstances that enabled them to benefit from the policy still apply.

Rebates are also available to bona-fide non-government organisations, public benefit organisations, health and welfare institutions, educational institutions, historical monuments, charitable institutions, sporting bodies, cultural institutions, youth development organisations, and animal protection organisations.

For more information on how to apply for the rebates, please contact the City’s Call Centre
on 0860 103 089 or visit your nearest municipal office.