Property owners association hits back

FIXED TARIFFS

- THEOLIN TEMBO

THE SA Property Owners Association (Sapoa) has slammed Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, accusing him of unfairly portraying property owners as being wealthy enough not to feel the impact of the tariffs.

Sapoa filed a replying affidavit in response to Hill-Lewis' court papers.

At the centre of the dispute, Sapoa is challenging the City's fixed tariffs and their decision to link certain fixed charges to property values.

In its court application, Sapoa is asking for the three tariffs in the Budget, namely the Cleaning Tariff, the Fixed Water Charge, and the Fixed Sanitation Charge be declared unconstitutional and invalid.

Sapoa's membership comprises more than 90% of the country's commercial and retail property industry, including some of the largest property-owning companies in South Africa.