Indigent Support Programme operational

 

Indigent Support Programme operational

ROMITA HANUMAN-PILLAY

THE City’s Indigent Support Programme is fully operational, and applications are currently being processed. The Indigent Support Programme exists to protect residents facing genuine financial hardship by providing low-income and impoverished households access to free basic municipal services.

EThekwini Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba engaged with thousands of uMlazi residents at King Zwelithini Stadium recently and outlined social relief measures for communities. Photo: Supplied. 

This basket of services is provided for in the Indigent Policy and includes support for water, electricity, refuse removal, sanitation, and other basic services. The Municipality wishes to clarify that the recent transition of the Indigent Support Programme function to the Revenue Management Directorate forms part of a broader effort to improve efficiency, accountability, and integration of services.

While this transition has revealed historical backlogs and other related challenges, it has also created an opportunity to address these issues in a structured and sustainable manner. An internal review is currently underway to assess the full extent of outstanding and incomplete applications, if any.

Immediate steps are being implemented, including:

·         Reinforcement of assessment capacity through the allocation of additional personnel

·         Prioritisation of outstanding applications, particularly those affecting vulnerable households

·         Verification and restoration of services where pre-assessed applicants and beneficiaries’ services are disconnected

·         Acceleration of plans to digitise records and modernise application tracking systems.

 

With regards to service disconnections, the City’s policies are guided by both financial sustainability and social responsibility. Where errors are identified, immediate corrective action will be taken.

EThekwini Municipality remains committed to providing beneficiaries with access to the Indigent Support Programme and those with outstanding applications are urged to approach their nearest Sizakala Centre.