EThekwini Municipality Debt Relief Programme

 

By Fred Felton | Feb. 24, 2023

There is still time for eThekwini Municipality customers to take advantage of the debt relief programme which is offered by the City.  

There is still time to take advantage of the City's debt relief programme. | Photo: Supplied

The Debt Relief Programme makes sure that customers can settle their outstanding debt and all interest accrued will be reversed. This programme is ideal for customers whose debt is 90 days and longer.

EThekwini Municipality and the customer will enter into an agreement with a plan of payment that doesn’t exceed 36 months and is based on the customer’s affordability.

So far over R119 million has been collected from instalments paid through the previous debt relief initiative.

‘’We have responded to the plight of customers who have requested an extension of the programme. We are aware of the financial difficulties that many customers face due to recent disasters experienced in the City and the current tough economic situation. As a caring City we do as much as we can to assist our customers,’’ said Ms Lindiwe Khuzwayo, Head of Communications, eThekwini Municipality.

Customers are required to put a down payment of five percent down for residential customers and 10 percent is required for business customers of the total debt. This amount will be payable up front.  Historical interest that has been accumulated will be written off. No future interest will be raised on the debt until the customer has paid the debt in full. This is provided that the customer complies with the agreement.

If the customer defaults on the agreement interest will be reinstated. Further to the interest write-off, dependant on the number of months the customer will choose, a percentage of the capital write-off will be done.

How to apply for the programme:

Customers that stay in the northern region of eThekwini Municipality who would like to take up this programme can visit any of the Sizakala Centres: oThongathi, Verulam, Phoenix and KwaMashu.

Residents in the western region can visit Sizakala Centres in Pinetown, Mpumalanga, Hillcrest, KwaDabeka and Clermont.

Customers in the south can visit Sizakala Centres in Cragieburn, KwaMnyandu, uMlazi Megacity, and Kingsburgh to apply for the programme before it closes.

The deadline to apply for this programme is the end of February 2023.