The City of Joburg’s Expanded Social Package (ESP), which aims to assist our indigent residents, has increased the monthly income threshold for the package to R5 578.91, with effect from 01 November 2017. This amount changes annually on 01 November in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPIX).
Joburg residents with no income, or earning an income of up to, but not exceeding the amount of R5 578.91, qualify to register and benefit from a rates rebate.
ESP is a basket of benefits which the City of Joburg offers to its most vulnerable citizens based on their level of poverty.
Currently, there are 321 984 residents that are registered as indigent, and the City calls upon all residents who meet the threshold to register at their nearest local ESP centres spread across the City’s regions.
Residents who wish to register for the ESP program and benefit from our rebates must meet the following criteria:
- Be a South African Citizen;
- Must reside within City of Joburg’s boundaries (for this, a proof of residence is required, for example: a COJ billing statement, a letter of confirmation from the local Councillor or an affidavit from the local police station); and
- Monthly income must not exceed R5 578.91 per month.
The benefits offered to qualifying citizens are as follows:
For Pensioners (Aged 60 and above)
- Rates rebates for properties valued under R2 000 000 (two million Rand);
- The account must be in the pensioner’s name;
- Electricity rebates on both prepaid and conventional accounts (City Power and Eskom);
- Water rebates on conventional accounts;
- The citizen does not have to be a homeowner to qualify for the metered service benefits;
- Referral for social work interventions on programs for the elderly and services offered by the City of Joburg departments.
For Working age Citizens and the Unemployed (Aged 18-59)
- Rates rebates on properties valued under R450 000;
- Electricity rebates on both prepaid and conventional accounts (City Power and Eskom);
- The citizen does not have to be a homeowner to qualify for this benefit;
- Water rebate on conventional accounts (the ESP water rebate is issued if the individual uses more than 6kl per month);
- The citizen does not have to be a homeowner to qualify for the metered service benefits;
- Referral for programs and services offered by the City of Joburg departments e.g. Skills Development, Social Service Interventions, Food Resilience, Youth Programmes, and Intervention Programmes for the Homeless.
As part of our pro poor agenda, the City of Joburg calls upon all residents that meet the new ESP threshold to register as well as assist those who qualify, but are unaware of the benefits, to contact their local councillors or register at their nearest COJ offices.
Metropolitan Centre, 158 Loveday Street. Braamfontein
P O Box 1049, Johannesburg, 2000
Tel: +27 11 407 7558 Fax: +27 11 339 5704
Author: Derrick Markotter
RCCI Webmaster Derrick runs a boutique web marketing agency, IdealMedia Marketing.