KZN TOPS INDIGENT HOUSEHOLDS IN SA

ZAMA MYEZA

KwaZulu-Natal has recorded the highest number of registered indigent households in South Africa.

According to a recent Stats SA survey's findings, a total of 2 622 070 households were registered as indigent in 2022, a 1,8% increase compared to the year before.

Approximately 25,9% of registered indigent households were recorded in KZN, followed by the Eastern Cape, with 21,7%, and the Northern Cape, with 21,7%.

Of the more than 2,6 million indigent households countrywide, 1,8 million benefitted from indigent support for electricity and 2,1 million poor households were given indigent support for water. The survey also revealed that

1,9 million poor households benefitted from the indigent support system for sewerage and sanitation.

According to the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, only indigent households qualify for Free Basic Services (FBS).

Municipalities have different dynamics and thus have a variety of methods to identify indigents. Among the criteria, is whether the combined monthly household’s income is below the income poverty threshold, which is set by the municipal indigent by-law.

Msunduzi Mayor Mzimkhulu Thebolla said the municipality had about 7 000 registered indigent households. Thebolla said some people opted to remain unregistered because of the limited water and electricity provisions for the indigent.

"What influences the reluctance to register is that for every indigent there is a capped water and electricity supply, which they receive for free. When they are registered, they cannot connect illegally because they will be easily detected as they are the beneficiaries of free water and electricity. They opt to remain unregistered so that they can continue living on illegal connections," said Thebolla.

He said the indigent could not afford to pay for services, hence the provision of between 60 and 70 kW of free electricity and 6 kl (6 000 l) of water.

All 257 municipalities responded to the survey for 2022 and the methods used for collection included personal visits, telephone and e-mail. Data is generally comparable between the 2021 and 2022 publications.

Child-headed households and households without access to FBS infrastructure are always regarded as indigent.

The population census recorded an increase in the percentage of households that use a flush toilet. In 2022, 70,8% of households had flushing toilets, up from 60,1% in 2011, and 51,9% in 2001.

Meanwhile, the percentage of households that use a pit toilet, without ventilation, as well as those with no toilet facility, declined from 22,8% to 12,5%, and 13,6% to 1,6%, respectively.

Stats SA said the two surveys were not necessarily comparable, as the data source for the non-financial census of municipalities came from municipalities as opposed to households.