Tshwane residents have taken to the streets in protest, denouncing the city’s new fixed sanitation levy as a “double tax” and demanding urgent action on what they describe as years of inaccurate municipal billing. The unrest highlights growing frustration over service delivery failures, financial mismanagement, and a lack of transparency from the City of Tshwane.
The protests come in response to a recently introduced R70 monthly sanitation fee that applies to all households—regardless of how much water or sanitation they actually use. Civic leaders and community members say the charge is not only unfair but punishes low-income families already grappling with inflated bills and questionable meter readings.
– Advertisement –
Tshwane Fixed Monthly Levy Faces Public Outrage
The City of Tshwane’s move to implement a fixed-rate levy has struck a nerve in communities where every rand counts. Previously, residents paid sanitation fees based on consumption. The new structure imposes a flat R70 fee per month—no matter how little water a household uses.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Bakery Driver And Crew Arrested For Faking Robbery And Hijacking In Limpopo
“This is nothing short of a hidden tax,” said Morné Mostert, head of local government at AfriForum. “Residents were not adequately consulted. Public participation was rushed, and meaningful engagement was lacking.”
Many community members see the fixed levy as a desperate revenue strategy that offloads the city’s financial burden onto households. Critics argue that rather than resolving systemic inefficiencies, the city is placing the cost of its mismanagement on the very people it is meant to serve.
Inaccurate Billing and Debt Triggers Protests in Tshwane
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: NSFAS Confirms 2025 Allowance Payments And Finalised Caps
Beyond the controversial levy, residents are fed up with what they describe as persistent overbilling and administrative chaos in municipal accounts. Protesters, led by the Lotus Gardens, Atteridgeville, and Saulsville Civic Association (LASCA), marched to Tshwane House last week, demanding a full audit of the billing system and the cancellation of long-standing municipal debt.
“Many of these bills are fabricated or based on estimates that don’t reflect reality,” said LASCA chairperson Tshepo Mahlangu. “Our people are being pushed into debt for services they didn’t receive. This is financial injustice.”
The protestors submitted a memorandum to the mayor’s office, urging the city to adopt a long-delayed debt write-off report that has reportedly been sidelined since August 2023. They argue that the policy must be applied equitably across all communities—not just selected areas like Hammanskraal.
– Advertisement –
Residents Demand Transparency and Political Accountability
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:Weaves Stealing Men Arrested In Durban City
Municipal officials, however, have cautioned that non-payment could deepen Tshwane’s financial crisis. Municipal Manager Johann Mettler warned that the city relies on residents’ contributions to maintain infrastructure and services.
Yet residents are firm in their stance: they want fair billing before they pay another cent. For many, this is not just a financial issue—it’s a political one. They see the billing crisis and the new levy as symptoms of poor governance, and they are calling on the administration to acknowledge its failures and rebuild trust.
“Our people are not unwilling to pay,” said Mahlangu. “They are simply tired of being taken advantage of. We need leadership that listens, engages, and acts in good faith.”
As public frustration boils over, the City of Tshwane finds itself at a crossroads. Whether officials will respond with accountability or further alienate the residents remains to be seen. What’s clear, however, is that Tshwane’s citizens are no longer willing to stay silent.
For SA Political News Follow SurgeZirc SA on Facebook, X and Instagram
– Advertisement –
