Buhle Mbhele
ANC KwaZulu-Natal convenor Mike Mabuyakhulu says eThekwini Municipality’s Indigent Support Policy for 2026/27 must be practical and ensure that more vulnerable households benefit from municipal assistance.
Mabuyakhulu has welcomed amendments to the initial draft, approved by council in July this year, saying they create opportunities for more households to access support.
The policy provides qualifying indigent households with free basic services, property rates rebates of up to 100% and municipal debt relief, subject to the applicable criteria.
The amendments include increasing the property value threshold for indigent rates exemptions from R350 000 to R400 000, potentially allowing more households to qualify for assistance.
Speaking at an ANC senior citizens’ engagement in Shallcross, west of Durban, today, Mabuyakhulu says the policy can only be considered effective if it reaches the people who need it most.
He says implementation must ensure that vulnerable residents are not left behind and that those who qualify can access the benefits intended to ease their financial burden.
Click below to listen to Mabuyakhulu’s sentiments…
