Connect with us

News

Metro Urges Pensioners to Apply for Rebates: What You Need to Know

Published

on

rebates process -Metro Urges Pensioners to Apply for Rebates: What You Need to Know

The City of Johannesburg’s metropolitan municipality recently delivered encouraging news to pensioners, announcing they can now apply for their rebates. The official statement, shared with Fourways Review, stated that the rebates process came into effect as of July 1, 2023, following the approval of the city’s budget on June 14, 2023. This development marks a significant step in providing financial relief and support to pensioners within the municipality.


Also Read: CPF Joins Law Enforcement to Fight Crime


Among those who could have done better in taking advantage of this opportunity is Glen Pearch from Fourways. Expressing his satisfaction with the application process, Pearch revealed that he found it relatively easy and smooth. Sharing some insights into the eligibility criteria, he explained that individuals over 70, paying rates for properties valued at least two million, are entitled to the rebates. For example, Pearch’s property falls within the two to three million value range, meaning he will receive a substantial pay rate reduction of approximately R300,000. Pearch’s enthusiasm about this initiative is evident, describing it as a great idea for taxpayers, offering financial relief and making their lives easier. Particularly for seniors facing the challenges of inflation, this initiative is a much-needed sigh of relief, potentially reducing monthly rate payments considerably.

While Pearch is already contemplating celebrating his rebates, other pensioners have had varied experiences with the application process. Cheryl Lishman Jearey recounted submitting her paperwork at the Daisy Street office two weeks ago. However, she encountered a temporary setback, being informed that the system was offline. She was asked to leave her application with a helpful staff member and wait for a reference number to be sent via SMS, which she anticipates receiving around the end of July. Despite this minor delay, Jearey remains patient, appreciating that good things come to those who wait.

On the other hand, Amber Joy Johnson had a more challenging time during her application journey. She encountered a series of hurdles and runarounds, taking over a month to sort out her application. Eventually, she sought assistance at an office in Ivory Park, a process that initially caused some apprehension due to safety concerns. Fortunately, she was finally able to resolve her application successfully last Thursday.

The City of Joburg has outlined a clear process for pensioners to apply for the rebates. Interested individuals must submit their application forms and supporting documents at the designated walk-in centre. To track the progress of their application, they are strongly advised to request a reference number during the submission. It is essential to note that the city will not accept applications submitted via email, emphasising the importance of following the proper procedure.

To comprehensively understand the rebates, the municipality provided detailed information based on different age groups. Individuals aged 60 to 69 are eligible for various rebate percentages depending on their monthly income and property value. Those earning below R11,904 per month are entitled to a 100% rebate on the first R1.5 million property value. Those with incomes ranging from R11,904 to R20,404 monthly will receive a 50% rebate on the first R1.5 million. However, those with monthly incomes exceeding R20,404 will not qualify for the rebate. Additionally, individuals in this age group receiving a National Security Grant will be granted a 100% rebate on the first R1.5 million, with rates applicable to the property value exceeding this threshold.

Those aged 70 and above, irrespective of income, are eligible for a 100% rebate on the first R2 million of property value. Any property value exceeding R2 million will be levied with rates accordingly.

As the City of Johannesburg foresees an increase in the number of applications, they anticipate that processing the rebates may take approximately two to three months. The city humbly requests applicants’ patience during this period, assuring them that all pensioner rebates received before September 30, 2023, will be duly adjusted to reflect the rebates starting from July 1, 2023.

Applicants are encouraged to contact the city through Info@rates4u.co.za for any inquiries or assistance.

The metropolitan municipality of Johannesburg’s initiation of pensioner rebates has brought forth favourable responses from seniors like Glen Pearch, who appreciate the ease of application and the potential financial relief it offers. While some individuals experienced minor setbacks in their application journey, they remain patient, understanding that the rebates’ impact will be worth the wait. The municipality’s detailed explanations and transparent procedures ensure that pensioners clearly understand eligibility and the application process. As this initiative progresses, the City of Joburg reaffirms its commitment to assisting pensioners and acknowledges the importance of timely communication and patience during processing.

Source: Metro calls for pensioners to apply for rebates, here’s what you need to know

Also Read:

`Follow us on Google News

Photo: Supplied by Fourways Review

Continue Reading
41113 mins ago

South African government destroyed R192 billion in a year Efficient Group chief economist Dawie Roodt says the South African government is a massive destroyer of capital. He made the statement during a presentation about the 2025 Budget delivered by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana on Wednesday, 12 March. “The South African government destroys approximately R200 billion annually by borrowing long-term and spending it on short-term items,” he said. He explained that funding short-term expenditures through long-term borrowing is the same as destroying capital. Ideally, the state should fund short-term expenses through short-term borrowing or available liquid assets. When the state uses long-term borrowing to cover short-term costs, it creates a mismatch in the time horizon of the liabilities. Over time, it leads to financial strain as the debt accumulates interest and becomes more challenging to service. This is exactly what happened in South Africa. Godongwana said in his 2025 budget speech that government debt is expected to reach 76.2% of South Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP) in this financial year. Over the last financial year, debt-service costs amounted to R389.6 billion. This translates to 22 cents of every rand the country raises in revenue. “It is more than what we spend on health, the police and basic education,” Godongwana told parliament. “We must reverse this trend and prevent the cost of debt from draining resources that could otherwise be spent on our pressing social needs or on investing in growth,” he said. However, South Africa is not off to a good start. Debt-servicing costs will increase to R424.9 billion in the next financial year. This 9% increase in South Africa’s interest payments is one of the fastest-growing items in the 2025 Budget. Roodt highlighted that the government also has implicit and explicit debt obligations linked to state-owned enterprises. “There are implicit and explicit that finance minister Enoch Godongwana must include in his outstanding debt estimates. He does not do that,” Roodt said. South Africa has R770 billion in guarantees to state-owned enterprises, which are not included in the debt levels Godongwana shared. Godongwana admitted that taking on additional debt to meet the spending pressures was also not feasible. “The amount is simply too large. The cost of borrowing would be unaffordable,” the minister said in his budget speech. “Our sub-investment credit rating would also make this level of borrowing costlier and put us at risk of even further downgrades.” The government has been exploring strong fiscal policy anchors to help prevent a recurrence of the cycle of high spending, high deficits and high debt. “At present, a primary budget surplus sufficient to stabilise debt has been adopted as the anchor,” he said. “However, the obligation to keep public debt stable is not explicit in South Africa’s legal and regulatory framework.” In this regard, the government is releasing, along with the budget, a discussion document presenting options for such an anchor. The Finance Minister expects the consolidated budget deficit to narrow from 5% of GDP in 2024/25 to 3.5% of GDP in 2027/28. The chart below shows the government deficit, which has been a regular feature over the last fifteen years.

Jozi Journeys2 hours ago

The Secret Garden at The Greenhouse: An Unforgettable Night of R&B and Hip Hop in Johannesburg

Doge today2 hours ago

USPS Signs Agreement with DOGE to Cut 10,000 Jobs: Critics Warn of Privatization and Service Disruptions

Business2 hours ago

South Africa’s Wake-Up Call: Diversifying Trade and Strengthening Ties Amid US Tensions

4112 hours ago

R359 Million Spent on Pit Toilets: North West Municipality Under Fire for Financial Mismanagement