The City thanks pensioners, social grant recipients and indigent residents who have applied for relief for their patience. Our teams are currently processing high volumes of applications.
This comment is from a valuation and rates policy perspective, with reference to the City of Tshwane’s 2024/25 Rates Policy
The City of Cape Town has published a draft Short-Term Letting By-law, 2026, aimed at addressing how Airbnb-style rentals are advertised, how they are categorised and rated for municipal property rates purposes.
Owners of non-residential properties that may be smaller but have have a higher value are now required to pay more for refuse removal.
Qualifying households, businesses and vulnerable residents can now apply for debt relief of up to 70%, while registered indigent and child-headed households may qualify for a full municipal debt write-off under Tshwane’s new programme.
Johannesburg is among 69 municipalities placed under corrective measures by National Treasury aimed at protecting public funds and forcing councils to fix their financial management.
Growthpoint Properties, South Africa’s largest JSE-listed REIT with a market capitalisation exceeding R59 billion, has spent the past decade steadily pulling capital out of Johannesburg — and its own annual reports read like a case study in municipal failure.
SAPOA’s latest newsletter is packed with updates relevant to property owners across South Africa.
As property owners, ratepayers, and business owners, what happens with your tax money directly affects your bottom line and your community. We regularly share updates from OUTA (Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse)
The rates increases for the metros and selected larger local municipalities are set out below:
Recent court decisions continue to shape the way municipalities fund services and implement property-related charges. A significant Western Cape High Court judgment has important implications for both municipalities and ratepayers.
The rapid growth of short-term rental accommodation continues to raise questions about how these properties should be categorised and rated. As municipalities seek greater clarity and consistency, the distinction between residential use and commercial accommodation is receiving increasing attention.
New valuation rolls and supplementary valuation activity continue across the country, making it important for property owners to review valuations and categorisations carefully when rolls are published.
Appeal backlogs continue across several municipalities, with a number of matters still awaiting hearings, objection decisions and board appointments.
The City of Cape Town is urging pensioners, social grant recipients, and registered indigent beneficiaries to renew their relief applications before 1 July 2026, when the new General Valuation cycle takes effect.