MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

Thousands Set To Benefit As Council Amends ATTP

By

NMBM’s Assistance to the Poor (ATTP) policy to be amended to help thousands more Thousands more indigent households in Nelson Mandela Bay will in future benefit from the city’s Assistance to the Poor (ATTP) programme.

On Tuesday, 1 November 2022, at a full council sitting, an item proposing amendments to the city’s ATTP programme was approved by the majority of councillors. The item to amend the policy was submitted by Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor, Cllr Retief Odendaal. In his submission the Executive Mayor recommended that the ATTP qualifying criteria be expanded to include homes where the properties are valued at R130 000 or less as per the General Valuation roll.

The current qualifying criteria was based only on the combined or joint gross income of all occupants or dependants in a single household not exceeding two times the government pension grant.

Furthermore, the applicant is required to be a resident of the municipality and be in possession of a valid South African identity document. The applicant must also be the owner or tenant who receives municipal services and be registered as an account holder on the municipal financial system.

As part of his submission, the mayor said property owners who own properties valued at more than R130 000, but less than R2 million, can still apply for ATTP if they meet the other requirements such as income. Their applications would be considered.

Mayor Odendaal recommended that the amendments be subjected to a public participation process in conjunction with the 2023/24 budgeting process. The municipality will also seek engagement with and guidance from National Treasury.

“I am pleased that council received the item in a positive manner and that councillors from across political lines understood the context and the importance of these amendments. The policy in its current form has eliminated a lot of people who genuinely need this service.

“I brought this item to council with a clear understanding of our current economic situation as a city and a country. Post the Covid-19 pandemic our city’s economy is on its knees due to an increase in unemployment. As leaders we cannot be naïve to these realities,” said the mayor.

Go On – Share the Gqeberha Love!

Views Since 15 July 2022: 35

Gqeberha’s Latest News and Events can be accessed on MyGqeberha.com.

The following two tabs change content below.
My Twitter profileMy Facebook profileMy Google+ profileMy LinkedIn profileMy Flickr profileMy Pinterest profile

Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.