Applications for Debt Rehabilitation close 30 June

by Angela Rivers | Jun 22, 2022 | News

Applications for City of Joburg Debt Rehabilitation close on 30 June 2022. The criteria for qualification changed, so if you applied in 2021 and were not successful, you are encouraged to apply again.

The following information was taken from City of Joburg LinkedIn page:

“The City has improved and amended the qualifying criteria for its Debt Rehabilitation program which was approved at a council meeting held on 26 April 2022. This amendment was in response to feedback received from CoJ customers who have been applying for the program since applications reopened on 1 March 2022 for the 3rd phase. Indebted ratepayers have until 30 June 2022 to apply for the amended debt rehabilitation program which is aimed at providing financial relief to qualifying property owners whose municipal accounts are in arrears.

DEBT REHABILITATION PROGRAM SUMMARY
The amendments to the qualifying criteria are as follows:

1) Write-off is only applicable to the following account holders:
• Residential account holders
• Small business account holders
• Faith-based organisation or places of worship
• Non-Profit Organisation
• Old Age Homes
• Orphanages and Body Corporates

2) The property value must not exceed R2.5 million.

3) The account in arrears must not be more than 90 days at the time of
submission of the application.

4) Applicants must be registered owners of the property, or a person dully appointed by the master of the high court where a property is part of a deceased estate.

5) For small businesses, places of worship and non-profit organisations to benefit provided gross revenue income is not more than R3 million per annum.

6) 100% of the 90-day debt will be written off if the applicant is a pensioner or registered as indigent on the City’s data base.

7) The combined gross income from all activities of the account holder/s and spouse must be less than R22 000 per month.

8) Monthly gross income is between R22 001 to R30 000, 30% debt will be written off.

9) Monthly gross income is between R30 001 to R40 000, 20% debt will be written off.

10)Monthly gross income is between R40 001 to R50 000, 10% debt will be written off.

11)All interest and penalty charges will be reversed for each of the income categories above.

12)Monthly gross income is above R50 000, no debt write off and only interest and penalty charges to be reversed.

13)Account must be kept update to date for twelve months from date of initial write off.

14)Ratepayers must pay current monthly consumption.

15)Metered services to be regularly inspected.

16)Smart meters to be installed.

17)Applications can be made online, via email (debtrehab@joburg.org.za) or at any of the City’s Customer Services Centres.

For more information on the revamped Debt Rehabilitation Programme, ratepayers can visit the City’s website www.joburg.org.za or visit any customer service centre.”

COJ extends debt rehabilitation program

by Angela Rivers | Mar 2, 2022 | News

The City of Johannesburg, during its Council meeting held on Thursday, 24 February 2022,
approved a further extension of the Debt Rehabilitation Program. The extension period is effective from 1 March until 30 June 2022.

Joburg Debt Rehabilitation Program is in line with priority number four of the “Golden Start” initiative announced by the Mayor, Mpho Phalatse. This intervention is designed to assist financially distressed ratepayers and defaulting customers to bring their arrears municipal accounts up to date.

Successful applicants will receive a 50% immediate debt write-off. The balance of the debt will be divided into thirds of which one third will be written-off each year for three years – the duration of the Debt Rehabilitation program. The debt remains written off provided the customer complies with all the conditions of the program.

Residential customers, small businesses, faith-based organizations or places of worship (Churches, Mosques, Synagogues, etc) and non-profit organisations (NGOs) are all eligible to apply.

For residential customers, the market value of the property and all properties owned by the
applicants must not exceed R1.5-million.

Businesses, churches and NGOs would have to provide financial statements showing they are not generating revenue of more than R3-million per annum.

To qualify for the 50% immediate write-off, the account-holder’s balance must be in arrears for more than 90 days when the application is submitted. The combined gross income of the account holder, individually or jointly, must be between R4 750 and R22 000 per month.

Where the gross monthly income is more than R22 000, only a percentage of the debt above 90
days shall be written off on condition that the account holder/s settles the account in full.

The sliding scale to be used is as follows:

Between R22 000 to R30 000, = 30% write-off of the debt above 90 days shall be offered; all
interest and penalty charges shall be reversed.

Between R30 001 to R40 000 = 20% write-off of the debt above 90 days will be offered; all
interest and penalty charges shall be reversed.

Between R40 0001 to R50 000 = 10% write-off of the debt above 90 days shall be offered; all
interest and penalty charges shall be reversed.

Above R50 001 = all surcharges shall be reversed.

Once approved, the account must be kept up to date for twelve months from the initial write-off. The City reserves the right to cancel the agreement and reinstate the original debt written-off should it be discovered that the account holder provided falsified information and documents to the City.

To apply for the program, customers can send an email to debtrehab@joburg.org.za or visit
www.joburg.org.za to access application forms or apply online.