Ratepayers’ body backs legal action over ‘unfair’ charges

THE Cape Town Collective Ratepayers’ Association (CTCRA) has welcomed a court case brought by the South African Property Owners Association (Sapoa) against the City of Cape Town over how it calculates certain charges on municipal bills.

- ERIN CARELSE

Sapoa has taken the City to the Western Cape High Court, arguing that linking fixed water and sewage charges to property value is unlawful - a view shared by the CTCRA, a newly formed body made up of 57 civic and ratepayer associations across Cape Town. Its interim chair is Noordhoek Ratepayers’ Association chairperson Bas Zuidberg.

In response to Sapoa’s legal challenge, Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said the association was acting to protect the profits of the country’s wealthiest property owners at the expense of ordinary Capetonians.

“Sapoa represents the largest and wealthiest commercial property owners - primarily shopping mall owners - who have long benefited from the success of Cape Town,” said Hill-Lewis.

“Yet now they argue that they should contribute the same to infrastructure costs as low-income households, which would be patently unfair.”

He said Sapoa’s attempt to halt the City’s 2025/26 budget amounted to a defence of regressive taxation.

“The effect would be for ordinary families to effectively subsidise the richest property owners.”