RESEARCH – Non-financial census of municipalities
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GUEST - Risenga Maluleke - Statistician-General of South Africa
consumer units receiving services from municipalities increased between 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 financial
years. For the period under review, water showed the highest percentage increase (5,9%), followed by sewerage and sanitation (3,7%), electricity (1,7%) and solid waste management (1,6%).
The provision of free basic services (FBS) provided to consumer units decreased in all services between
the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 financial years. Differences in the number of consumer units receiving free basic services between 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 were the result of households not renewing their status in 2021/2022 and they were therefore automatically
deregistered by their respective municipalities.
Furthermore, some households have reached a predefined threshold that made them no longer eligible to receive
benefits. According to 2021/2022 financial year estimates, there were 2,6 million indigent households as identified by municipalities, an increase of 1,8% from 2020/2021 financial year. Of the 2,6 identified indigents, 2,1 million indigent households benefited
from the indigent support system on water, while 1,8 million benefited from indigent support on electricity provided by municipalities.
Furthermore, 1,9 million indigent households benefited from the indigent support system on sewerage and
sanitation and 1,6 million indigent households benefited from the indigent support system on solid waste management.
consumer units receiving services from municipalities increased between 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 financial
years. For the period under review, water showed the highest percentage increase (5,9%), followed by sewerage and sanitation (3,7%), electricity (1,7%) and solid waste management (1,6%).
The provision of free basic services (FBS) provided to consumer units decreased in all services between
the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 financial years. Differences in the number of consumer units receiving free basic services between 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 were the result of households not renewing their status in 2021/2022 and they were therefore automatically
deregistered by their respective municipalities.
Furthermore, some households have reached a predefined threshold that made them no longer eligible to receive
benefits. According to 2021/2022 financial year estimates, there were 2,6 million indigent households as identified by municipalities, an increase of 1,8% from 2020/2021 financial year. Of the 2,6 identified indigents, 2,1 million indigent households benefited
from the indigent support system on water, while 1,8 million benefited from indigent support on electricity provided by municipalities.
Furthermore, 1,9 million indigent households benefited from the indigent support system on sewerage and
sanitation and 1,6 million indigent households benefited from the indigent support system on solid waste management.