Councillor Ashley Sauls I, the MMC for Health and Social Development, is committed to ensuring that the City's most vulnerable citizens, particularly the elderly, unemployed, people with disabilities, displaced persons, and women and children, receive the necessary social assistance and care. It is the responsibility of the City to inform the community about the Expanded Social Package (ESP), particularly what the benefits are and how our community members can sign up for them.
The ESP relief grant is determined by the level of assistance required based on the City's poverty index.
The department has established 35 ESP offices across the metro's seven regions to inform the community about the social benefits available to them and help them register if they qualify. "Although registration for the ESP can be done online, the Department of Social Development is aware that many people do not have internet access," says Councillor Ashley Sauls I, the MMC for Health and Social Development.
It is simple to qualify for the ESP: all residents must be South African citizens, live within the City of Johannesburg, and have a monthly income of no more than R6 086,37 (six thousand eighty-six rand and thirty-seven cents). To qualify, you do not need to be a homeowner, or a customer of any metered service offered by the City.
The City also offers a rebate on non-metered services through the ESP programme for properties worth less than R2 500 000 (two million and five hundred thousand Rand). This non-metered service is available to citizens over the age of 60, while the rate rebate is offered to people aged 18 to 59 on properties worth less than R500 000 (five hundred thousand rands).
"Qualification may be simple, but keep in mind that you will need some documents to successfully register for the ESP programme, including proof of income, a SASSA card, and your most recent three months' bank statements, or an affidavit confirming that you do not have a bank account or a source of income," he says.
Councillor Sauls I says residents must also have a valid South African identity document, proof of residence, a City of Johannesburg rates and taxes account, a City Power account, or a prepaid metre card/meter number – or an account number or prepaid metre number if they get electricity from Eskom.
"Your water account or prepaid water account number will be required. In the absence of any of these documents, you must bring an affidavit for your application to be considered. If you are accepted into the ESP programme, you will have access to the programme's benefits for six months," he explains.
The MMC is working hard to ensure as many people as possible do not need to rely on the ESP programme, but in a world where jobs and job security is scarce, the City encourages residents to re-register with all the required documents listed above.
"Don’t forget that once the rebates offered through the ESP programme have been exhausted, you will be liable for any additional consumption on metered service. We look forward to giving you the boost you need to stress less about City debts and more focused on skills development to improve your life and your financial position," Sauls I says.
Residents interested in home registrations for the chronically ill can apply through the following email: espunit@joburg.org.za or call 011 (407-6688/6751). Click here for a list of revenue, skills, recreation centres and community clinics where you can register for ESP.
ENDS
For media queries, please contact:
Ewan Botha
Deputy Director: Communications and Stakeholder Management
In the Office of the MMC for Health and Social Development
083 664 0805
03/06/2022
