MMC for Community and Social Services Palesa Modise has urged qualifying members of the community to register themselves for the City of Tshwane’s Indigent Programme as soon as possible so that they can reap benefits that are embedded in the scheme.
Modise said this while on an oversight visit in Mamelodi on Friday.
She was accompanying by Mamelodi ward councillors.
Her first stop was at Ikageng community hall and engage with residents of Mamelodi about the program.
Modise also visited the Mamelodi number citizen at Mamelodi Old Age home and her last stop was at Municipality office in Mamelodi to engage with officials and residents.
“We would like to encourage members of the community to participate in our Indigent Programme as it belongs to them and carries benefits such as free 12 kilolitres of water, free 100 units of electricity and rubbish bins are removed without a fee,” she said.
She pointed out that she will be visiting all regions of Tshwane to enlighten various communities about the services that are available to them.
Modise said the city brought them services from the SAPS, the City of Tshwane’s health department, Home Affairs, SASSA, Masters office,
“It would be unreasonable for us to acknowledge that our elderly don’t have an income to speak of, are indigent, can’t afford to pay for Municipal Services then expect them to pay for transport to go to places like the police station to access services like making an affidavit,” she said.
“So, we brought all the aforesaid service providers right where the elderly live,” explained Modise.
“SAPS presented an opportunity for the elderly to make affidavits and the department of health officials advised the elderly as to how to take care of themselves because if one has no money, like in their case, stress levels go higher,” she said.
“Home Affairs was there to help the elderly apply for Identity Documents and SASSA was there to provide proof that is needed for them to be enrolled in the City’s Indigent Programme,” said Modise.
Modise emphasised that people who qualify for the Municipality’s Indigent Programme are those who have a services account with the Municipality, are pensioners, earn child support grant and are unemployed,” explained Modise.
She added that the Indigent Programme is not only for pensioners but that it is also meant to assist anyone who doesn’t earn in enough to afford paying for Municipal Services.
She explained that the Indigent Programme was previously known as the Poorest of the Poor (POP) but it is now called the Indigent Programme.
“It is insulting to say we are dealing with the poorest of the poor, we are dealing with the indigents,” she said.