City of Johannesburg launches Debt Relief Programme Phase 4: What residents and businesses need to know

Johannesburg — The City of Johannesburg (CoJ) has opened a new window of relief for customers struggling with mounting municipal arrears, rolling out Debt Relief Programme Phase 4 (2025/2026) — an intervention aimed at helping qualifying residents, businesses and organisations reduce long-standing debt while restoring payment compliance.

Running from 1 November 2025 to 31 October 2026, the programme offers significant concessions, including up to a 50% write-off of qualifying municipal debt and a 100% waiver on interest and certain penalty-related charges, provided applicants meet the City's conditions and commit to a structured repayment plan.

Why the City is offering debt relief

Municipal debt has become a growing pressure point for both households and enterprises across Johannesburg, driven by a mix of economic strain, billing disputes, service interruptions and accumulated interest over time. The City's debt relief drive is positioned as a reset mechanism: easing the burden for qualifying customers while encouraging consistent payment going forward to protect service delivery.

What the programme offers

According to the City's published programme criteria, approved applicants may receive:

• Up to 50% write-off on qualifying municipal debt (subject to category and conditions)
• 100% waiver on interest, penalty fees and certain additional charges linked to arrears (as set out in the City's criteria)

The relief is not automatic. It is conditional on customers entering into an Acknowledgement of Debt (AOD) agreement and paying the remaining balance according to the approved repayment terms.

Who can apply

The City indicates Phase 4 applies across several customer categories, including:

• Residential customers
• Pensioners and qualifying indigent/ESP beneficiaries (with additional considerations based on affordability and criteria)
• Small and large businesses
• Faith-based organisations and non-profits (NPOs)
• Body corporates, and certain care institutions such as old age homes and orphanages (subject to requirements)

For residential accounts, the City's criteria include a property valuation threshold on the municipal valuation roll (the City's published Phase 4 criteria indicates up to R2.5 million for residential eligibility, subject to other conditions).

Key conditions customers should understand

While the relief can be substantial, the City's rules make it clear that applicants must meet compliance requirements. These typically include:

1) You must be the rightful account holder/owner

Applicants are generally required to be the registered owner and provide supporting documentation (such as a certified ID copy and other required documents depending on category).

2) Accounts must be "normalised"

The City's criteria include requirements aimed at ensuring accounts are accurate and compliant — for example, addressing tampering issues where applicable and ensuring proper meter readings and metering arrangements.

3) You must sign an AOD and stick to it

Approved applicants must sign an Acknowledgement of Debt and repay the remaining portion within the agreed timeframe. If a customer defaults, the City may reverse the write-off, meaning the relief can be lost.

4) Repayment terms differ by category

The City's criteria outline different repayment windows depending on whether the applicant is a residential customer, pensioner/ESP beneficiary, small business, large business, or an organisation such as an NPO or body corporate.

How and where to apply

The City has provided multiple application channels during the programme period (1 Nov 2025 – 31 Oct 2026):

• Apply in person at City Customer Service Centres (Regions A–G)
• Apply via email: debtrelief@joburg.org.za
• Programme information is published on the City's website: www.joburg.org.za (Debt Relief Programme pages)

What residents and businesses should do now

For households and enterprises considering the programme, the practical first step is to confirm your account status, gather the required documents, and ensure any metering or account issues are resolved early — especially where accounts need to be "normalised" before approval.

Customers are also urged to read the City's conditions carefully before signing an AOD, as the repayment plan becomes the key requirement that protects the write-off from being reversed.

Bottom line

CoJ's Debt Relief Programme Phase 4 offers a meaningful opportunity for qualifying Joburg residents and businesses to reduce arrears and restart on a more manageable footing — but it comes with firm conditions and a clear expectation: relief in exchange for repayment discipline and ongoing compliance.

Insight Jozi News will continue tracking updates from the City of Johannesburg, including outreach schedules, application support points, and any changes to criteria or documentation requirements.

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For more information:
Email: debtrelief@joburg.org.za
Website: www.joburg.org.za