Ethekwini: The eThekwini Municipality has reopened its Special Debt Relief Programme for customers whose account disputes were still under consideration when the programme closed in January 2026. The decision, approved by the eThekwini Municipal Council, is targeted specifically at customers with unresolved disputes related to electricity, water, and property rates accounts. The programme is now open and will remain available until the end of August 2026, addressing approximately 154 qualifying account disputes valued at a combined R112.3 million.
According to South African Government News Agency, eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba encouraged eligible customers to seize this opportunity, which had previously been available from May to June 2025, as it allowed for a 50% write-off of qualifying debt owed to the city as of January 2025. Xaba noted that the appeal from ratepayers and key stakeholders led to an extension of the programme from November 2025 to January 2026, aiming to ease financial burdens on households and businesses.
The mayor emphasized that continued public engagement revealed customers with pending account disputes also wished to benefit, prompting the decision to reopen the programme. Xaba urged all eligible customers to visit municipal customer service centers before the programme concludes at the end of August. The Special Debt Relief Programme, which initially concluded in January 2026, had previously written off R515 million in qualifying debt, benefiting over 4,500 customers.
The council also reviewed the Accounts Management Dashboard Overview Report for May 2026, noting advancements in the municipality's water and electricity metering systems. The Smart Water Metering Programme exceeded its annual target, with 1,865 smart water meters installed and 135 more in areas like uMhlanga and Westville. This initiative replaces old meters with smart technology to reduce water losses, improve monitoring, and enhance billing accuracy.
Similarly, the rollout of smart electricity meters addresses infrastructure issues, faulty meters, theft, and billing inaccuracies by providing real-time consumption monitoring and tamper detection. The report found that 95% of urban water meters are read and billed based on actual consumption, although challenges like faulty electricity meters persist. The municipality continues to implement measures to improve billing accuracy, legislative compliance, and revenue collection.