Tshwane Municipality writes off R32 million debt owed by 250 households

JOHANNESBURG - The Tshwane Municipality has written off R32 million owed by households that can no longer pay.

A report tabled at the council on Thursday shows 250 households were approved to have their municipal debts written off.

The approval came from the city’s affordability assessment committee which gives directives on whether to extend or write off debt.

The write-off was unanimously passed.

Democratic Alliance (DA) caucus chairperson Jacqui Uys said while the municipality must be aggressive in its debt collection, it still has a responsibility to assist those who cannot pay.

“This is why this administration needs to continue the work that was begun to deal responsibly with the debtors' book, by finalising reports already requested by the DA to write off debt to deceased estates and to allow beneficiaries to open up new accounts, write off debt to child-headed households and register them on the indigent register.

“Fast track the indigent application process to utilise credit records, bank statements, and SASSA [South African Social Security Agency] records for qualification. Change policy to allow officials to, by following accounting guidelines, write off debt older than three years when it is clear from credit records that residents will not be able to service that debt.”