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Tshwane Backs Down: Residents Celebrate Win as R194 Cleansing Levy Is Scrapped
When a Charge Becomes a Turning Point
Every city has that one moment when residents decide they have had enough. In Tshwane, that moment arrived with a monthly R194 cleansing levy that landed on thousands of municipal accounts, including households already paying private waste collectors. What followed was a wave of frustration, legal action, political pressure, and ultimately a rare civic victory that has reminded South Africans of the power of organised resistance.
The City of Tshwane has now confirmed that the levy will be removed for all affected properties and that residents will receive credits on their municipal accounts. Importantly, there will be no cash refunds. The decision comes straight from a Gauteng High Court ruling that found the charge unlawful.
A Court Battle that Redefined the Rules
AfriForum took the city to court, arguing that the levy amounted to double taxation because residents using private waste companies were being charged twice for one service. Their legal challenge succeeded in August when the High Court struck down the levy. Tshwane appealed, which usually suspends a judgment, but the civic group returned to court and won again. The second ruling made the suspension invalid and forced the city to stop implementing the charge immediately.
The city had hoped to collect around R540 million through this policy. Officials insisted it was about ensuring that every property contributed to maintaining a clean environment. The court had a different interpretation, and residents argued it was about fairness and transparency rather than revenue.
Municipal spokesperson Lindela Mashigo confirmed that the city will comply and has already begun reversing the charges. Teams have been instructed to adjust accounts, and the process is expected to conclude soon.
A City Facing Financial Pressures
Just weeks before the ruling, Tshwane announced that it had collected R4 billion in revenue in a single month for the first time. It was positioned as a financial milestone in a municipality that has struggled with debt, service delivery pressures, and public trust. Losing the levy now represents a setback in its effort to stabilise operations and cover the rising costs of waste management.
Mashigo said the city remains committed to accountability and responsible financial management but must now restructure its approach while respecting the court order.
Political Pressure and Public Reaction
DA mayoral candidate Cilliers Brink welcomed the ruling and called for the suspension of all credit control actions and service cutoff threats tied to the levy. Residents should not be penalised for an amount that has been declared unlawful. He emphasised that households already battling rising living costs cannot absorb further confusion or intimidation.
On social media, the mood has been a mix of relief and scepticism. Many have celebrated AfriForum’s win as a rare instance where residents challenged municipal overreach and succeeded. Others argue that the fight is not over until the legal status of the levy is settled in the Supreme Court of Appeal. For now, though, the pressure is off residents, and the billing system will be corrected.
Why This Moment Matters for South Africans
South Africans know that municipal charges can quietly add up. A small figure placed on a monthly bill can slip by for months before anyone questions it. In Tshwane, residents decided to push back, and the court ruled in their favour. The episode has been a reminder of how important legal oversight is in a country where municipal budgets are stretched and accountability remains a public demand.
Whether the levy returns in a revised form will now depend on the Supreme Court of Appeal. Until then, Tshwane has been ordered to stand down, clean up its billing system, and communicate properly with ratepayers.
For many households, it feels like a moment of empowerment. For the city, it is a message that financial pressure cannot come at the expense of fairness.
Also read: Homes Swept Away and Roads Collapse as Fierce Storm Pounds uMshwathi
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: X (formerly known Twitter)/@CityTshwane
