Sol Plaatje Municipality has offered customers a discount of up to 50 percent as an incentive to settle their municipal debt during the month of February.
SOL PLAATJE Municipality has offered customers a discount of up to 50 percent as an incentive to settle their municipal debt during the month of February.
Municipal spokesperson Thabo Mothibi said customers who owed the municipality for more than 90 days and settled their account in full would be entitled to a 50 percent settlement discount on all municipal services.
“All interest charges will also be written off if the account is settled in full.”
He said customers who wished to settle their account in full over three years would be required to pay a 30 percent upfront payment.
“Customers owing the municipality for a period equal to or over 90 days shall in the first year of the arrangement be entitled to a 50 percent write-off on all interest charges and 25 percent on rates.
“If a once-off 30 percent payment is made towards the settlement of their account, as per the debt relief programme, customers will be given a 25 percent write-off of all interest charges and rates during the second year of the payment arrangement, provided that the account is paid in full on a monthly basis for the whole of the second year.”
Mothibi stated that a further 25 percent write off on all interest charges and rates would be granted in the third year of the arrangement if the account was paid in full.
He added that the municipality was prioritising repairs and the replacement of metres and the installation of prepaid metres.
“If there is any tampering during the three-year debt relief programme, the customer shall be disqualified from receiving further benefits in relation to the agreement. The agreement will also become null and void.”
He also encouraged qualifying customers to apply for the indigent assistance.
“The social package includes six kilolitres of free basic water per month per household, 50 units of electricity and fully subsidised refuse and sanitation services. Indigent households are only responsible for the payment of rates on their municipal accounts, received on a monthly basis.
“Indigent status will be awarded where the total household income does not exceed R4,500 per month. The applicant must be residing at the relevant property on a full-time basis. The property cannot be used for rental purposes and the applicant cannot own more than one property.”
Mothibi recognised the financial constraints faced by ratepayers where it was difficult to meet their obligations to the municipality.
“This has a negative impact on our collection rate and ultimately hinders the municipality from providing efficient and effective services. In response to this plight the municipality, with the approval of council, will be embarking on this debt relief programme up until February 28.”
