City extends deadline to register for rates rebate
The City of Cape Town has extended the rates rebate deadline from 31 August until 29 October 2010. This is the deadline for those in need who wish to take advantage of the rates rebate offered to registered homeowners whose total household income is R8 500 a month or less, where the occupants are aged 60 years or more, or if they are the recipients of a disability pension/grant.
Alderman Ian Neilson, Deputy Executive Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Finance, said more than 20 000 people who met these requirements successfully registered for this relief last year, but to date only 12 000 applications have been received. The City is concerned about this, hence the extension of the due date. He believes that there are other potential beneficiaries that the Municipality would like to help, but who have not yet registered.
"To provide relief in the current economic climate, when increasingly people are facing the re-possession of essentials such as homes and vehicles, when rising prices of fuel, electricity and food are forcing all but the very rich to cut back on necessities, the City of Cape Town has implemented compassionate policies that will bring some measure of financial aid to those who need it most." Neilson said.
A rates rebate, which is implemented on a sliding scale of 10% - 100% was made available during June 2010 to registered homeowners whose total household income is R8 500 a month or less, where the occupants are aged 60 years or more, or if they are the recipients of a disability pension/grant.
To maximise the benefits of this policy, the City has therefore extended the deadline for applications from 31 August until 29 October 2010.
"The City wants to register everyone who qualifies for the rates rebate, so that the relief measures we have put in place can restore their dignity and take away the increasing fear of impending poverty," Neilson said.
"We call on community organisations to encourage potential candidates to register with the City," he said. Neilson pointed out, however, that everyone who qualifies for the rates rebate will have to re-register annually and prove that the circumstances which enabled them to benefit from the policy still apply.
"Anyone who turns 60 within the City’s financial year which runs from July 2010 until June 2011 and to whom the other conditions such as income and disability apply, qualifies as a beneficiary of the rebate,” says Trevor Blake, Director: Revenue. “The rebate will however be implemented on a pro-rata basis."
Various rates rebates are also available to bona-fide farming operations, non-government organisations, public benefit organisations, religious organisations, health and welfare institutions, educational institutions, historical monuments, charitable institutions, sporting bodies, cultural institutions, youth development organisations and animal protection organisations.
For more information, please call the City’s Call Centre on 0860 103 089 or visit your nearest municipal office.
Issued by: Communication Department, City of Cape Town
Media enquiries:
Trevor Blake, Director: Revenue
Tel: 021 400 9988
Cell: 084 433 5727 |
Airport Shuttle
The is to be launched on Saturday May 29. This service will run between the Civic Centre on Hertzog Boulevard in central Cape Town, and Cape Town International Airport. This is to be a permanent service, continuing after the World Cup.
The trip will take about 30 minutes outside of peak hour and tickets will cost R50, giving better value than any other option for a transport to the airport. The tickets will be sold at the Airport and Civic Centre stations.
The service will run from 4am until 12pm between May 29 and June 5, and from July 11 until July 16. Buses will depart every 15 minutes during normal operating hours. Before 6am and after 9pm, they will depart every 30 minutes. There will be more buses when a higher demand is expected.
From June 6 until July 10 there will be a 24-hour service, and on FIFA World Cup days, the buses will depart more frequently.
For more information, call the city's toll-free Transport Information Centre, on 0800 656463.
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MAPS AND FURTHER INFORMATION
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LETTER OF OBJECTION
‘COMMON’ SENSE OR CREEPING COMMERCIALISATION?
For the attention of all residents and ratepayers in Green Point, the Atlantic seaboard and the rest of Cape Town.
City of Cape Town planners have invited approximately 2000 interested and affected parties to comment on their application to revise the conditions under which the use of Public Open Space on Green Point Common is controlled. Some of you received notification by registered letter. We have until 12 April 2010 to do this.
It is only by responding in writing that you can influence this decision; if you do nothing the application will, in all probability, be automatically approved. Any affected person has the right to submit comments or object to the proposal, but you must clearly substantiate and give reasons why you are adversely affected. Frivolous objections will not be entertained.
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