News

In a landmark decision, the Constitutional Court confirmed that municipalities cannot levy excessive or arbitrary property rates.

In November 2024, the Supreme Court of Appeal (court) set a precedent for Valuation Appeal Boards (VABs) in South Africa, reaffirming the importance of providing clear and reasoned decisions.

The purpose of this newsletter is to bring to your notice a few important industry related matters.

In crumbling Johannesburg, community associations, piece by piece, are helping to save the city from its own downward spiral.

Civil society asks if former incumbent Floyd Brink is as good as it gets for the troubled Johannesburg City Council.

The City is helping residents with their municipal debt and encourages customers to make use of the support available to lighten the load, increase the culture of payment and make sure the metro’s debt levels stay stable to enable service delivery.

The ANC has resolved, once again, to try to fix local government ahead of the upcoming elections. And once again, it is overwhelmingly likely to fail, mainly through the actions of its own members.

For the first time in South Africa’s history, the financial health of the nation’s municipalities will take centre stage on a national platform, not for criticism but for celebration.

A legal battle in Cape Town between property owners and the City will clarify what municipalities can charge residents.

In separate key judgments handed down last month, both the North and South Gauteng High Courts ruled against the imposition of unlawful and irrational municipal cleaning levies implemented by Tshwane and Johannesburg – much to the relief of property owners.

The date for the urgent court challenge to City of Cape Town’s three tariffs linked to property rates, has been set for 17 and 18 September in the Western Cape division of the High Court.

Join our very own Christo Bokhorst who will be discussing valuing of student accommodation on the SAIV webinar on the 20th August 2025.

The City of Ekurhuleni calls property owners who qualify for rates exemption or rebates to apply as the current exemptions and rebates will expire with the current evaluation roll on 30 June 2025.

Building owners in South Africa have only five more months to register for new energy performance certificates by the 7 December 2025 deadline.

A revised Council for the Built Environment (CBE) Bill is set to be introduced in Parliament, aimed at giving the Council stronger investigative powers, consolidating regulatory functions, and establishing it as a single, more effective regulator for South Africa’s built environment.