Protesters want change, not explanations

Gallery Update

GEORGE NEWS - Organisers of the peaceful protest march held last week said they expect George Municipality to come back with more than "just an explanation of how things work. ANC's Castor Leholo said they want to see change.

"We've been peaceful this time, next time we will come with full force," said Leholo at the entrance to George Municipality last Thursday, 24 August, after the hand over of a memorandum to Mayor Leon van Wyk.

The municipality agreed to a feed back meeting in September. They were asked to give feed back within two weeks of the march.

Indigent support, high electricity rates and issues such as the blocking of electricity meters, are high on their priority list for discussion.

Despite the withdrawal of support from the PBI, Good, EFF and PA, an estimated number of 250 people joined the march which started at Fourways in Thembalethu.

PHOTO GALLERY: Protesters on the move

The ANC showed a very strong presence, along with Sanco (South African National Civics Organisation) and Cosatu (Congress of South African Trade Unions). Residents of Pacaltsdorp were transported to the municipality by bus.

What says the mayor?

Mayor Leon van Wyk said the municipality will go through the memorandum in detail, and take note of the contents and requests. "As we understand, it is about the services we provide. There are policies that we approve each year, which determine how we should provide services," Van Wyk said during a short interview.

"Those policies follow the guidelines prescribed by national treasury and the government. We will communicate this to the public."

Van Wyk said some misunderstanding does exist. "We live in difficult times, in bad economical times, and it is hard for people. The cost of electricity has skyrocketed. People often do not understand the complexity of a situation. Sometimes a residence is also occupied by the children of the previous owners, and transfers do not take place as they should; or there are tenants in houses where the owners no longer live. The municipality has to deal with many of these cases which are administratively complex. We are repeatedly trying to work on this and try to get up to date."

Matters that matter

Last week the municipality released a number of informative statements about the indigent applications, reasons why prepaid meters get blocked, quick facts on smart water meters and tips for indigent households regarding electricity tariffs.

Important information and frequently asked questions are addressed in these informative pieces. Residents are, among other things, advised that their Sassa grant will not be affected by their Indigent Application. Qualifying households have to apply for indigent support every single year.

Residents' prepaid electricity meters are blocked when multiple attempts to reach a resident regarding their unpaid balance, have failed: "This prompts you to visit us and discuss payment arrangements."

Indigent Subsidies in George

Why Reapply?

Requirement from National Treasury: Annual reapplication is necessary to ensure that only valid, qualifying households receive the grant.

Managing Indigent Subsidies

Municipal Policy: George Municipality follows a policy for managing Indigent Subsidies.

Source of Funding: The Indigent Grant is funded by National Treasury through the Equitable Share.

Annual Subsidy Amount: George Municipality provides over R200 million in Indigent Subsidies annually.

Educational Efforts: George's Finance Department has organized roadshows in each ward to explain the Indigent Subsidy process and to assist residents to apply for the subsidy.

Application Process

You have to reapply every year;
The income from everyone in your household is assessed;
Total household income may not exceed 2 x state pension (SASSA);
Complete an official application form;
Applicants must be full-time occupants;
May not own any other property in SA;
Property used for residential purposes only;
Application form/s must be verified and checked before approval / declined;

Registered Applicants Receive

Water Subsidy: 100% subsidy on the basic charge and 6kl of water per month per household.
Electricity Subsidy: 100% subsidy for up to 70kWh of electricity per month per household.
Refuse Removal Subsidy: 100% subsidy for refuse removal per month.
Sewerage Disposal Subsidy: 100% subsidy for sewerage disposal per month.

Did you know

Your SASSA grant will not be affected by your Indigent Application.

Photo: Zama Gagu

QUICK FACTS: Why Prepaid Meters Get Blocked

Your prepaid meter is blocked only as a last resort, here is why?

Unpaid Municipal Account:
If you have outstanding payments on your municipal account and all efforts to contact you have failed.

Attempts to Contact:
After multiple attempts to reach you regarding the unpaid balance, we block your prepaid meter. This prompts you to visit us and discuss payment arrangements.

Legally Mandated Measure:
Prepaid meter blocking aligns with the Municipal Systems Act's requirements for credit control on overdue accounts.

Contact for Assistance:
For help, phone the municipality's debt control section at 044 801 9111 during office hours or 063 699 5998 after hours or via email creditcontrol@george.gov.za.

QUICK FACTS: Smart Water Meters in George

George Municipality has introduced Smart Water Meters and have already successfully installed them in selected areas. These meters have some important features that you should know about:

Not Prepaid Meters:
These new Smart Water meters are not prepaid meters. This means you don't need to pay for your water in advance. Instead, you'll receive a bill for the water you use after you've used it – same as current system of billing.

No Disconnections:
The Smart Water Meters won't disconnect your water supply. So, you don't need to worry about your water being turned off by these meters.

Saves Money:
The Smart Water Meter can actually help you save money. It works by reading how much water your household using remote internet-based technology. This means that someone doesn't have to come to your house to read the meter manually. This saves time and resources.

Faster Leak Detection:
The Smart Water Meter is clever enough to detect leaks quickly. If there's a leak in your water system, the meter will notice it early. This helps you catch and fix leaks before they become big problems.

So, the new Smart Water Meters are designed to make things easier for you. They save you money by accurately measuring your water use and help you catch leaks faster. You will be notified at your home when a Smart Water Meter is due to be installed.

George Municipality envisions a city that operates intelligently, ensuring water resource preservation and an enhanced quality of life for all its residents. Your journey towards a smarter water future begins with us.

ANC's Castro Leholo hands Mayor Leon van Wyk their memorandum.

Electrical Tariffs - options for Indigent Household

Important Information about Electrical Tariffs

The amount you pay for electricity is connected to how much electricity you use.
Households who use 20 Amps or less will not have to pay any fixed charges.
If you use more than 20 Amps, you'll pay a lower consumption rate per unit, but with fixed charges, being a fixed cost of R85 per month and a capacity charge R5.16 / Amp.

Just part of the crowd: Mayor Leon van Wyk (left) and Municipal Manager Dr Michele Gratz (right).

Special Cases for Indigent Consumers Only

Indigent households are set to use 20 Amps by default which means no fixed cost or capacity charges.

If indigent households select a capacity higher than 20 Amp, they will not pay the R85 Fixed Cost but will need to pay the R5.16 per Amp capacity charge.

Choosing a higher capacity than 20 Amp will not affect your Indigent status.

Tips for Using 20 Amps Wisely

You must manage the load.
Using too much power, for example, running your stove, kettle, and microwave all at the same time can trip your prepaid meter.
If your prepaid meter trips three times, it locks and resets ONLY AFTER AN HOUR. If it trips again after a reset a municipal electrician must to be sent out to restore, which costs money and might leave you off for longer.
Please manage the load and reduce consumption after a trip.

A strong police presence at the George Municipality. Photos: Michelle Pienaar