About

The implementation of the findings of the recent Western Cape High Court judgment of 30 April 2026, obliges the City to make several material amendments to the rate and tariff structure in the 2026/27 March Tabled Budget. The proposed changes have been incorporated in the Residential and Commercial Rates and Tariff calculator for the 2026/27 financial year as follows:

• Residential Property Rates reduction has been increased to R620,000 (including the statutory reduction), up from R500,000 in the 2026/27 March Tabled Budget;
• Amendment to the Rate-in-the Rand for both Residential as well as Business and Commercial customers;
• City-wide Cleaning for residential properties and vacant land will no longer be recovered through a tariff but instead funded through Property Rates;
• The reliance on Electricity contributions to Property Rates for City-wide Cleaning services provided to commercial customers will be phased out resulting in the overall average energy tariff increase for commercial customers being reduced to 5.46%;
• Consumption-based charges for both Water and Sanitation have increased for high-usage domestic customers compared to the 2026/27 March Tabled Budget; and
• Fixed Water and Sanitation charges will revert to being based on water meter size, being the methodology applied by the City prior to the introduction of property value bands methodology.

Access the Rates and Tariffs Calculators:

• Residential calculator
• Business and commercial calculator

Please note: Given the technical complexities involved in the City’s rates and tariff calculators, the specific impact cannot be isolated. To assess the effect of the valuation changes, the calculations must be performed twice – once using GV2022 values and again using GV2025 values. This dual calculation approach ensures a clear comparison, allowing the City to provide residents with an understanding of how the updated valuations influence their municipal accounts.

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