Thousands of indebted residents, churches, businesses and other institutions in Thulamela stand to benefit after the municipality extended its Debt Relief and Incentive Scheme to the end of September 2026 following overwhelming public demand.
The scheme, which was introduced after a council resolution adopted on 26 February 2026, was initially scheduled to end on 30 June 2026. However, long queues at municipal offices on the closing day prompted the municipality to grant applicants an additional three months to settle their outstanding municipal accounts.
Municipal spokesperson Mr Ndwamato Tshiila said many residents and stakeholders were still waiting to be assisted when the municipal offices closed on the final day of the programme.
“On the closing date, residents and other stakeholders came in large numbers and we could not service them all. Many still wanted to pay by the time we were closing, but we could not work during the night. They pleaded with us to extend the due date and, as a municipality that listens to its residents, Council resolved to extend the deadline until the end of September 2026,” he said.
Tshiila said the extension would give residents more time to settle their municipal accounts while enabling the municipality to recover much-needed revenue. He described the response to the initiative as overwhelming, adding that although the final figures had not yet been consolidated, the municipality had already recovered millions of rand.
“The funds will assist us in addressing infrastructure backlogs, including the repair of damaged roads such as the Shayandima-Itsani road, among others,” he said.
Tshiila urged all qualifying residents and institutions to take advantage of the extended period and settle their debts before the new deadline.
The extension has been welcomed by many residents, particularly indigent households, who said they needed more time to raise the required funds.
Ms Gladys Dzivhani, a pensioner from Shayandima, thanked the municipality for extending the scheme.
“Most of us only heard about the programme very late and did not have money to pay immediately. Now that the deadline has been extended, we have an opportunity to settle our debts. I have already registered as an indigent and will soon make my payment,” she said.
Under the incentive scheme, residential account holders qualify for a 50% discount on their outstanding debt, while businesses, churches and faith-based organisations receive a 25% discount. Government institutions and Section 21 schools qualify for a 100% interest write-off.