DocumentOngoingReport

Indigent Policy 2022-2023

Thembisile Hani Local MunicipalityRef: https://www.thembisilehanilm.gov.za/sites/default/files/Indigent%20Policy%202022-2023_0.pdf

Official source

Source domain: thembisilehanilm.gov.za

Collected on 13 July 2026

Always confirm details on the official source before acting.

What this means

This document is the “THEMBISILE HANI LOCAL MUNICIPALITY INDIGENT SUBSIDY AND FREE BASIC SERVICES PROVISION POLICY 2022/2023”. It sets out the legislative basis, definitions, qualifying criteria, funding source, and application/registration process for indigent households to receive free basic services and an indigent subsidy for a municipal financial year. It also describes the benefits (including free water, sanitation, refuse removal, rates/taxes exemption, and 50kW electricity), affordability measures (e.g., reduced metered water to 6kl/month), and conditions for termination such as death, de-registration after employment is found, or debiting the account if false information was provided.

What this document offers

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subsidised municipal service provisionOngoing

Indigent Subsidy and Free Basic Services Provision

Households in Thembisile Hani Local Municipality with very low or no income can apply to receive free basic services, including free water, sanitation, refuse removal, exemption from rates and taxes, and 50kW of electricity. The subsidy is credited directly to the household's municipal account and does not involve cash payments.

Who it is for: households with gross income below one state pension per month, owners or tenants, with active municipal accounts
How to act on it: Submit a completed application form with ID, recent municipal account statement, proof of income or declaration, occupant details, income/expenditure statement, sworn affidavit, and a recommendation from a Ward Councillor to the Department of Thembisile Hani Local Municipality.

Facts

Reference

https://www.thembisilehanilm.gov.za/sites/default/files/Indigent%20Policy%202022-2023_0.pdf

Parties

Legislative authority

Key Takeaways

Document: THEMBISILE HANI LOCAL MUNICIPALITY Indigent Subsidy and Free Basic Services Provision Policy 2022/2023
Legislative authority cited: Local Government Municipal Systems Act 2000 (sections 97(1)(c) and 74.2(c)) and Constitution Act 108 of 1996 (section 27)
Qualifying criteria include: written application in prescribed format; applicant 18+ (except child-headed households); owner or tenant; active municipal account; one application per household; not apply if owning more than one property; household gross income less than one state pension per month
Funding: annually provided on the operational budget; financed from a portion of the National Government Equitable Share; indigent arrears may be written off against bad debts provision
Application requirements include: ID, most recent municipal account, proof of income (or declaration), occupant details, income/expenditure statement, sworn affidavit, and recommendation by a Ward Councillor
Benefits include: free basic water, free sanitation, free refuse removal, exemption of rates and taxes, and provision of 50kW electricity; subsidy is credited to the municipal account (not paid in cash)
Affordability measures: metered water reduced to 6kl/month for poor households; no credit control measures while discounted monthly levies are paid in full
Termination triggers: death of account holder; debtor must de-register once employment is found; false information leads to debiting of previously credited monies
THEMBISILE HANI Local Municipality
Council of THEMBISILE HANI Local Municipality
Indigent Subsidy and Free Basic Services Provision Committee
Ward Committee
Municipal Manager
Department of THEMBISILE HANI Local Municipality (assigned department/agent for processing)
Ward Councillor
Inspectors (e.g., social workers)
National Government (Equitable Share)