On Thursday, the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) objected to a council decision that now allows individuals who own more than one property to apply for classification as indigent.
This provision grants limited free water, electricity and other basic municipal services to such individuals.
The amendment is absurd and defies common sense. The purpose of indigent support is to assist those who are genuinely struggling financially – not those who own multiple properties.
While the Freedom Front Plus is in favour of providing aid to the most vulnerable, it is entirely unreasonable to claim that someone with more than one registered property requires the same assistance as, for example, a pensioner struggling to afford basic necessities.
Furthermore, the approved budget does not indicate whether the values of the various properties will be considered collectively or individually when determining eligibility for indigent status.
The policy framework now stipulates that the property value must be less than R600 000 for a presumed indigent, and between R600 000 and R1 500 000 for a registered indigent.
This lack of clarity creates confusion and opens the door to unfair and inconsistent application.
The amendment paves the way for exploitation, undermines the credibility of the indigent support system and jeopardises the Municipality’s limited resources to the detriment of those who truly need assistance.
It raises serious questions about the Municipality’s fiscal management and prioritisation of public funds.
There must be clear, fair and rational criteria to prevent exploitation while care is taken not to exclude those who genuinely require help.
The Freedom Front Plus remains committed to protecting the interests of taxpayers and vulnerable residents, and will not allow populist decisions to undermine public trust or responsible governance.
