The Council has the overall responsibility for laying down the Indigent Support Policy.
Indigent Support Policy Principles
The following should be the guiding principles in implementing the Indigent Support Policy:
- The Indigent Support Policy is in accordance with the Local Government Municipal System Act No 32 of 2000, Local Authorities Ordinance No. 25 of 1974 and other amending or related legislation.
- Relief will be provided by the Council to registered residential consumers of services.
- The Council must, wherever possible, ensure that any relief is constitutional, practical, fair, equitable and justifiable to avoid alienating any group of households. There should be no differentiation whatsoever of any residential consumers. It should only differentiate in the level of service rendered.
- The subsidy for minimum service levels should not result in the creation of a complicated administration that would not be cost effective to implement.
- Differentiation must be made between those households that cannot afford to pay for basic services and those who just do not want to pay for these services.
- The payment of services should be affordable to the indigent.
The Indigent Support Policy will prevail as long as funds are available.
- The Council may review and amend the qualifications for indigent support.
The collective or joint gross income of all the households will be taken into account. The household income must be correctly reflected on the application form requesting indigent support.
- The residents must formally apply on the prescribed application forms for the relief and will qualify for the indigent support according to the prescribed criteria/principles laid down by the Council. After the application form has been completed, an effective and efficient evaluation system should be used in order to obtain the outcome within a reasonable time determined by the Council.
- If a person is found to be indigent, it should be registered on a database linked to the debtors system.
The onus is on the recipient to inform the Council of any change in his/her status or personal household circumstances.
- All indigents should be re-evaluated after a period of three months to assess the provision of continued basic services.
- Disciplinary measures decided by the Council, should be imposed on people who misuse the system and provide incorrect information.
- An approved community communications programme, embodying the principles of transparency and fairness, should be implemented in respect of the indigent support programme.
- Skills Training and other education-related programmes should be introduced to develop the indigent to become self-sufficient and thereby reduce the rate of Indigence. The provision of Social Welfare Services at the office of the Council, should also be reviewed.
- Any other principle decided by the Council.
Criteria for Qualification for Indigent Support
- A household where the combined or joint gross income of all occupants/residents/dependants, over the age of 18 years or who have potential earning capacity, is less than R950,00 per month (National norm at time of drafting this Manual) and can no longer afford to pay for the services provided by the Council.
- Only registered residential consumers of services delivered by Council.
- Households who formally apply for relief on the prescribed documentation and satisfy the qualifying criteria/principles determined by the Council.
- Household/occupants/residents/dependants who do not own more than one property.
- Households who are not receiving significant benefits or regular monetary payments.
- Property owners who live on the premises.
Period for Qualification
- The period for implementation of the Indigent Policy is to be determined by the Council during its budgetary process.
Extent of Indigent Support
The extent of the monthly support will be determined by the Council's budgetary provisions and/or the amount received from the Central Government divided by the number of recipients with a maximum of an average monthly service account determined as follows:
- Water;
- Refuse collection;
- Electricity;
- Sewerage; and
- Average assessment rate of a residential property.
- The Council will, on a three-month basis, assess the level of support depending on the number of applicants
- The level of indigent support shall not exceed the monthly billings to the account.
- Distribution of the Indigent Support
- Relief will only be distributed to those residents who apply and qualify.
- The relief must be significant so as to relieve the recipient of the financial hardship for a specific period.
- All registered consumers will be charged the determined economical tariff or charge.
- The recipient's monthly account will be credited with the amount of indigent as determined by the Council on a monthly basis.
- Relief will be applied for a period of approximately 3 to 6 months as determined by the Council.
- The household may apply for continuation of the relief depending on his/her circumstances.
Application for Indigent Support
Applications for relief must be made on the prescribed forms. The applicant must comply with all the necessary requirements. The application form to contain, inter alia, the following important information:
- Details of the account holder;
- Proof of income;
- Proof of residence;
- Identification documents; and
- Number and names of dependants.
- The onus at all times to re-apply for continued relief or submit proof of change in circumstances rests on the household.
Control Measures for the Distribution of Indigent Support
- A Committee will be appointed to administer the indigent support programme.
- The Committee will scrutinise each application prior to approval.
- On a monthly basis the status and complete details of the applicants and respective beneficiaries are to be submitted to the Council for noting.
For the purposes of transparency, on a monthly basis, the following key information of the recipient's indigent support should, where possible, be displayed on the notice board at the cashiering offices of the Council:
- Names of households receiving relief for the prescribed period;
- Stand number where services are rendered to the recipients;
- Total household income; and
- Number of dependants residing on the property.
- Any resident may query the qualification of a recipient in writing, within 14 days from the date of publication, to the Council.
- Any other measure decided by the Council.
Action Against Malpractices
The Council may refer queries to the Committee for Indigent Support Policy, who may take the following action:
- Request the resident to provide full proof of his/her banking account and income details as well as pension registration;
- Direct inquiry at the recipient's residence;
- Request a social welfare worker's report on the household; and
- Any other action decided by the Council.
If it is established that incorrect information was furnished in obtaining relief the following action can be taken:
- Suspend or stop the relief immediately;
- Recover from the recipient the amount of relief furnished by debiting his account;
- Normal credit control in accordance with the Council's credit control policy will apply; and
- Institute a criminal charge of fraud against the recipient.
Basic Services Offered to the Indigent
Indigent Support is to be provided for the following services, subject to funds being allocated and the relevant criteria being adhered to:
- Rental;
- Rates;
- Sewerage;
- Refuse;
- Water; and
- Electricity.
The Council can determine special tariffs for the use by the Indigent for the following services subject to the availability of funds and compliance with the prescribed criteria:
- Sports Grounds, Pools;
- Fire Protection;
- Transport;
- Museums;
- Pensioners (where possible);
- Market;
- Agricultural Properties;
- Hiring of Halls;
- Cemeteries and Crematoria; and
- Mayor's Relief Fund.
- Discretionary Powers
The Council has the discretionary powers to amend any clause, stipulation or tariff embodied in the Indigent support Policy in the interest of the parties concerned.