Port Elizabeth: MyPE - Assistance to the Poor Subsidies for Land Reform Recipients

www.MyPE.co.za: Impoverished residents who own a property and received land through South Africa's Land Restitution Programme will now qualify for the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality's Assistance to the Poor (ATTP) Programme.

This is especially important since a clause in the institution's ATTP Policy clearly states that residents who own more than one property are not eligible for the free basic services provided with this programme.

As a result, many people, who are in need of the assistance, were disqualified. The Municipality's Council decided on October 15, that: "Indigent persons who qualify for the ATTP subsidy and who are the recipients of land from the Land Reform Process, should be exempted from clauses 2.1.1, 2.1.2 and 2.1.3 for a period of 10 years from the date of transfer and thereby receive a subsidy on their service charges on their land reform property while they remain the owner of such property; over and above any ATTP subsidy they receive for occupying any other property.

"If development takes place on the land reform property within the 10 year period, the ATTP subsidy will then only be granted in terms of clause 2.1.14 (family house) on the second property."

This would mean that disadvantaged beneficiaries of the Fairview, Colchester and the Salisbury Park Land Restitution claims can still apply for assistance.

Qualifying Criteria:

The total household income of applicants, from all sources, must not exceed the equivalent of two State welfare pensions, currently amounting to R2 020,
The account holder must apply in person and must reside on the property in respect of which assistance is sought,
The applicant must be an account holder and reside on the property in respect of which assistance is sought,
A tenant can apply for the benefits in respect of the charges he/she are billed for and the landlord will still be liable for all ownership related charges such as rates,
The account of a deceased estate may be subsidized under the scheme, if the surviving spouse or dependants of the deceased, who occupy the property, apply for assistance. All other conditions of the scheme will still apply, and;
The following child grants received by a household will be excluded from determining household income, provided proof of such grants is supplied by the applicant: Foster Child Grant, Care Dependency Grant and Child Support Grant.

The Assistance to the Poor Programme has shown exceptional growth since its inception on 14 July 1997 that currently 96 817 households receive free water (8kl), basic sanitation, electricity (75kW) and property rates subsidy to the tune of R255 million. This figure is expected to increase to R492 million by 2010/11 and will benefit 124 000 impoverished households.
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Contacts.