The City of Cape Town is offering additional relief measures to property owners and businesses that are struggling due to the national lockdown.
Last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced an extension of two weeks to the initial 21-day lockdown in a bid to slow down the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19).
Currently, South Africa has 2173 confirmed cases and 25 deaths.
During the lockdown, people are required to stay at home unless they need to buy food, access health facilities and banks.
Due to the financial implications of the lockdown, many businesses fear they will be forced to close down.
Now, the City says it has adjusted the processes of its Indigent, Disabled and Pensioner rebate applications to enable those severely affected to qualify more quickly for these rebates.
Normal processes require the assessment of income over three months to enable qualification. This is now reduced to an assessment of one month of income so that people can qualify more quickly for the benefits.
The rebate will be backdated to Wednesday April 1 or the month in which the income was lost. It will be valid for 12 months unless there is a change in the person’s income or they are re-employed, in which case they need to notify the City.
Property (residential) owners, who have lost their job/income – with a total household income of R6 000 per month or less – can apply for help via Indigent.relief@capetown.gov.za or send a text message to 48043.
Pensioners, who are property owners, who are experiencing a reduction in investment returns or household income due to Covid-19, can apply for help via email (during lockdown) Rates.rebate@capetown.gov.za or text to 48043.
If you are a property owner, who does not qualify for indigent or pensioner rebates but your account is getting into arrears, you can make a payment arrangement to pay off the rates over an agreed number of months. Apply for help via email (during lockdown): COVID19.Relief@capetown.gov.za or SMS to 48043.
Commercial property owners, who need assistance, can apply for help via email (during lockdown): COVID19.Relief@capetown.gov.za or SMS to 48043.
The City says further relief steps are being considered for implementation in the 2020/21 Financial Year and will be announced at a later stage.
