eThekwini Municipality Reopens Special Debt Relief Programme

Posted 08 July 2026 Written by Acts Online
Category Municipal

Brought to you by SAnews: The eThekwini Municipal Council has approved the reopening of its Special Debt Relief Programme, specifically targeting ratepayers with unresolved disputes regarding electricity, water, and property rates accounts.

In terms of the credit control and debt collection frameworks governed by the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, No. 32 of 2000, the council resolved to reinstate the relief mechanism with immediate effect. The programme is open exclusively to customers who had active, unresolved account disputes under consideration when the previous phase of the programme closed in January 2026. The reinstated window will close on 31 August 2026.

The municipality has identified approximately 154 qualifying account disputes, representing a combined value of R112.3 million. Under the rules of the Special Debt Relief Programme, qualifying applicants can secure a write-off of 50% of their outstanding debt owed to the city as of 31 January 2025. The previous phases of the programme, which ran from May to June 2025 and November 2025 to January 2026, resulted in the write-off of R515 million in debt for over 4,500 customers.

Smart Metering and Billing Dashboard

The council also reviewed the Accounts Management Dashboard Overview Report for the period ending May 2026, which outlines progress in modernising billing systems under the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act, No. 56 of 2003. Key updates include:

  • The Smart Water Metering Programme has exceeded its annual target, installing 1,865 smart meters, with 135 currently being deployed in uMhlanga, Westville, New Germany, Bellair, and Amanzimtoti.
  • Approximately 95% of urban water meters are currently billed on actual consumption readings.
  • The smart electricity meter rollout continues to target ageing infrastructure and electricity theft, though faulty meters awaiting replacement continue to cause estimated billing in certain areas.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: No direct individual obligations unless you hold a personal municipal account in eThekwini with an active dispute lodged prior to January 2026.
  • For your business: Durban-based businesses with unresolved utility or rates disputes must immediately verify if they are among the 154 qualifying accounts to secure the 50% debt write-off before 31 August 2026.
  • For your clients: Professional advisors should review client property portfolios in the eThekwini region, identify pending municipal disputes, and assist clients in visiting municipal customer service centres to formalise debt relief agreements.

Originally published at https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/ethekwini-reopens-debt-relief-customers-pending-disputes

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