Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning

           3(a)  To enable a dignified life for all, so that all residents have access to essential services and opportunities to live safely and healthily, the Department conducted research into a ‘basket of dignity’. This refers to the quantity of basic services, water, electricity, sanitation, and refuse removal, required to ensure a dignified life for its residents. Specific to the question, in terms of the National Framework, the quantum of water is 6kl, per month and for electricity amounts to 50kw, per month for indigent households. However, the research proposes that the amounts increase to between 9 to 15 kl for water and between 75 to 100kwh for electricity, per month for indigent households.

       (b) This approach will improve the quality of life and opportunities for indigent households in the Western Cape by increasing free basic service allocations to levels that genuinely support a dignified living for indigent households. Amongst others, they should then have reliable access to adequate water and electricity without being forced to resort to unsafe or more costly alternatives. This will also directly support better health outcomes, economic participation, and social inclusion for the most vulnerable households in the Western Cape and improve personal dignity.  However, the proposal for providing additional free basic services should not be taken in isolation as there is the financial sustainability of municipalities to consider. To address this, the research proposes alternative revenue streams.