Latest news with #FreeBasicServices
The South African
09-07-2025
- General
- The South African
THIS many residents could get free electricity and water … but don't
A new report from Stats SA shows worryingly low uptake for free electricity and water services to the indigent. Plus, the number of South African households receiving free electricity and water has only been declining over the last decade. For those who are unaware, government's Free Basic Services policy was adopted back in 2001. The goal was to offer free electricity and water and other basic services (like refuse collection and sanitation) to indigent South African households. However, the numbers are declining … Do indigent residents even know about these Free Basic Services available to them? Image: File The latest data from Stats SA shows a concerning decline in the uptake of free electricity and water, reports Daily Investor . As a result, experts believe municipalities may be be too selective and the money is being syphoned away. Or awareness of Free Basic Services might be lacking on the ground. And applicants of free electricity and water can't be bothered to deal with the rigmarole annually. Central to the near quarter-century-old policy is that only eligible households will receive services at no charge. These are typically retirees or old-age SASSA grant recipients who do have homes, but are unable to keep up with maintenance and other costs. Over the time of Free Basic Services, the cost of electricity has increased by more than 450%. Image: File As such, Free Basic Services includes a minimum amount of electricity, water, and sanitation that the government considers sufficient. The amounts provided differ per province and municipality, as do the fineries of each application process. Likewise, depending on means, some households might qualify for 100% subsidies. While others may only qualify for less than 100% depending on the criteria set. However, on average, free basic electricity and water should include 50 kWh and 6 000 litres of water per month. And sanitation can be subsidised up to R50 per month. Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has expressed confidence in a load shedding-free winter. Image: Pexels Nevertheless, Stats SA has telling data on why the uptake is declining. From 2014 to 2023, nationally, the percentage of consumers getting free water declined from 38% in 2014 to just 16% in 2023. Similarly, the percentage of consumers getting free electricity dropped from 25% to 14% over the same period. As such, the drop in free electricity and water usage is being attributed municipalities being more selective and/or households not being aware of the services. And let's not forget that from 2007 to today, electricity has risen 450%. This is more than three-times more than inflation over the same period. Even more telling is the fact that 80% of South African households – an estimated 5.4-million residents – are likely eligible but don't receive these free basic services. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
02-07-2025
- General
- IOL News
Less households get free basic services as municipalities tighten the tap
The number of South African households receiving free basic services is declining steadily, with the sharpest drops seen in access to free water, electricity, and sanitation. Image: Nicola Mawson The number of South African households receiving free basic services is declining steadily, with the sharpest drops seen in access to free water, electricity, and sanitation. New data from Statistics South Africa shows that, while more consumer units are being serviced overall, fewer are receiving these services free of charge, which is a trend that is mostly being driven largely by budget constraints and more stringent targeting of indigent households. The Free Basic Services policy, introduced in 2001, was designed to ensure that the poorest South Africans have access to essential municipal services. Over time, it expanded to include water, electricity, sanitation, and refuse removal. Municipalities are responsible for rolling out these services and determining which households qualify, based on locally defined indigent criteria, Statistics South Africa explained. Statistics South Africa's 'Non-financial census of municipalities' report shows a shift. In 2023, 15.8 million consumer units received water services, up from 15.3 million in 2022. Yet only 16% of those received the service for free, down from 17% the year before. The same pattern emerged in electricity and sewerage coverage, where the proportion of free services also fell, Statistics South Africa found. Solid waste removal was the outlier as both access and free service coverage saw a small increase, with 16.8% of households receiving it at no cost. This recent dip is part of a downward trajectory as, in 2014, 38% of households receiving water got it free; by 2023, that figure had plummeted to 16%, the agency's data showed. Sewerage and sanitation followed suit, dropping from 31% to 16% over the same period. Even electricity coverage has declined in many regions, although KwaZulu-Natal increased free electricity provision from 14% to 16% since 2014, Statistics South Africa indicated. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The reasons behind the decline are complex but largely economic. Municipalities are facing tighter budgets and rising service demands, prompting a more targeted approach, it found. Where previously some municipalities extended benefits to all residents, today most reserve free services for those officially registered as indigent. Informal settlement growth has added pressure to already stretched municipal systems, Statistics South Africa said. There's also a bureaucratic hurdle as indigent households must apply and regularly renew their status to keep receiving benefits. Many are unaware of this requirement or lack the resources to complete the process, which means otherwise eligible households missing out. Some municipalities still stand out for high levels of coverage. In Northern Cape, Hantam Local Municipality reports 93% of consumer units receiving free water and sanitation. Khâi-Ma (Northern Cape), uMuziwabantu (KwaZulu-Natal), and Siyancuma (Northern Cape) also show significantly higher-than-average free service coverage. But these are exceptions rather than the rule, Statistics South Africa found. IOL
