Enoch Mgijima Municipality offers debt relief to customers

Residents and businesses with outstanding municipal accounts have been given an opportunity to reduce their debt through the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality’s debt relief programme.

The programme runs from 1 June to 30 November 2026 and is aimed at customers who are struggling to settle outstanding municipal accounts.

Under the programme, residential customers who pay the equivalent of 12 months’ debt can qualify for a 50% reduction on older debt, together with a 100% write-off of interest on the qualifying debt.

Pensioners earning less than R10,000 per month can apply for a payment plan, with debt older than 12 months eligible for a 100% write-off, subject to the programme’s conditions.

Indigent households can qualify for a full debt write-off if they are registered as indigent and have a prepaid meter.

Businesses are also included in the programme. Businesses that pay three years’ debt upfront can have older qualifying debt and interest written off.

Government customers who settle their outstanding accounts in full can qualify for a 100% interest write-off.

The municipality has also made provision for deceased estates. Where the last 12 months’ debt is paid, debt older than two years may be written off.

Customers who make use of the programme will, however, be required to keep their accounts up to date going forward.

The municipality has also warned that meter tampering is not permitted, and all applications remain subject to the applicable council policy and programme terms.

Customers wishing to make use of the debt relief programme can visit the Municipal Finance Offices from 1 June 2026 to apply and regularise their municipal accounts.

The programme is scheduled to close on 30 November 2026.