Staff Reporter
Residents living on modest incomes are being urged to check whether they qualify for expanded relief on municipal bills, with new thresholds opening the door to free basic services and, in some cases, a full rebate on property rates.
Siseko Mbandezi, the mayoral committee member for finance, said the city had lifted the income ceiling for pensioners and social grant recipients to R27 000 a month. The broader social support allocation for the 2025/26 financial year stands at R5.1bn, he stated, aimed at cushioning households under pressure.
Officials at customer interaction centres are available to guide applicants through the process. Mbandezi added that beneficiaries should note that because the city enters a general valuation year, existing recipients will need to submit fresh applications after 1 July.
He also thanked residents who continue to settle their accounts, saying these payments sustain essential services and underpin the municipality’s financial stability.
How to apply
Applications can be lodged in person at customer interaction centres, through the city’s online e-services portal, or by email to Rates.Rebate@capetown.gov.za or Indigent.Relief@capetown.gov.za.