Please close my cheque account

I have a account with Standard bank and l have app**** for debt review and the bank confirmed receipt of my debt counselor letters. But the problem is the bank doesn't want to close the cheque account as l can't afford to maintain it. I am no longer using the account and given that l have app**** for debt review it means l can't afford to pay them. They have kept the account running and l am incurring bank charges while they are aware of my debt problems. Somebody please help.