A big congratulations goes to Bitou Municipality’s CFO and team for a collection rate that stands at 102%. The
numbers were announced at a Bitou Council meeting on Tuesday, 30 April 2024. CFO, Felix Lötter, and his team for
March reached this rate for the first time in 7 years.
The collection rate would not have been reached without the cooperation of residents who pay their rates and
make arrangements on outstanding accounts.
Bitou Municipality encourages residents who fall within the indigent to apply for indigent support.
The municipality provides support to households that don’t afford to pay for municipal services under the indigent
support program as set out in the Indigent, Senior Citizens and People with Disability Policy.
The policy ensures that all citizens are able to access their constitutional right to a basic level of services. The
reviewed Indigent, Senior Citizens and People with Disability Policy provides for subsidization to all households
with a total household income of not more than R 5 200 per/month excluding all social grants.
The following is the package of subsidised services:
(a) 6 kl free Water and no basic charge per month;
(b) 50 kWh Electricity and no basic charge per month.
(c) Refuse removal – no basic charge per month;
(d) Sewerage – no basic charge per month and 1 free sewer removal (septic tank) per month;
(e) Property Rates – property rates exemption on the first R 350 000 of their property value.
The municipality further provides additional financial assistance/relief to households in the following income
groupings above the indigent household threshold -
Category A: R 5,201 – R 6,710 = 40%;
Category B: R 6,711 – R 8,723 = 30%;
Category C: R 8,724 – R 11,340 = 20%;
Category D: R 11,341 – R 14,743 = 10%
The financial assistance in the form of a discount will apply to all basic service charges (water, sanitation, refuse
and electricity) levied as per the income groups quoted above. All groupings will also receive property rates relief
on the first R 350 000 of their property value.
Application forms are available on the municipal website http://bitou.gov.za and also from the
Revenue offices situated in shop no. 54 Melville’s Corner, Plettenberg Bay, 6600.