THE Beyers Naudé Local Municipality (BNLM) has introduced a debt incentive scheme to encourage prompt payment of residential debtor accounts.
This follows after the municipality revealed last week that community members currently owe BNLM R71.2 million. Based on municipal records and the 2011 census, 28% of the labour force is unemployed and 48% of the working age population (15-64 years) is not economically active.
The projected unemployment rate for the whole of Beyers Naudé Local Municipality for the year 2018/19 is 33%.
“This situation makes it difficult for our local consumers to service their accounts,” the municipality stated in a media release on Wednesday, July 17.
“As a first step, the council invites all people qualifying to apply for the indigent grant. The administration has been instructed to increase field work to improve the number of people registered on the IGG register.”
BNLM urged the community to make use of this opportunity.
The new debt incentive scheme excludes businesses, but encourages residents to choose from three payment options:
- Option 1: Pay all new debt (0-90 days) and 75% of older debt is written off, with the remaining 25% of older debt paid off over 24 months.
- Option 2: Pay 40% of older debt (more than 90 days) and the remaining 60% is written off.
- Option 3: Pay 60% of all debt and the remaining 40% will be written off.
The debt incentive scheme is valid from July 1 this year to December 31. The municipality has invited residents to visit any finance office or call 049 807 5741 for further information.
