Thousands of indigent
people get benefits
By Nangamso Mabindla
30 September 2005
MORE than 50 000 indigent people have been registered in Buffalo City, as the municipality works to meet the national government's goal of ensuring that all indigent people have access to essential services by 2012.
This is thanks to the City's indigent policy, which was approved by the City council in December 2003.
The word indigent means "so poor as to lack even necessities", leading to the view that goods and services such as sufficient water, basic sanitation, refuse removal, healthcare, housing, food and clothing are necessary for an individual to survive.
According to the Department of Provincial and Local Government, individuals lacking these necessities are considered indigent.
All households received six kilolitres of water and 50 kilowatts of electricity free each month, as part of a national government initiative, but the municipality also gave indigent citizens a subsidy of R148, said senior communications officer Mamnkeli Ngam.
"We also subsidise their accounts for refuse, sewerage and fire levy," Ngam said, explaining the indigent policy.
It focused on underdeveloped areas like informal settlements and places with high levels of poverty.
"The policy also looks at households that have a very low income, a low consumption of basic services and own property with pre-paid electricity. We also focus on disabled people, pensioners and unemployed people."
For a household to be classified as indigent, it needed to have a gross monthly income of R1 560 or less.
To qualify for the indigent subsidy, citizens needed to meet a number of criteria.
- The legal owner of the house had to be verified through the latest account statement.
- Identity documents for husband and wife, if married, had to provided.
- The Indigent Household Application Form had to be completed.
- Proof of income, affidavits confirming unemployment, casual work, state pension or other social assistance grants like child maintenance and disability grants had to be provided.
- The applicants could not own more than one fixed property.
- Finally, the indigent status of the customer had to be confirmed by a ward councillor.
"A penalty of R5 000 will be imposed on consumers who submit false information and all benefits enjoyed will be reversed," Ngam warned.
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