GOOD Statement by
Anton Louw , GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor
& Sarah Mabotsa , GOOD City of Tshwane Councillor and MMC for Economic Development and Spatial Planning
23 April 2025
Across the country, municipalities have tabled their draft budgets for the upcoming 2025/26 financial year. Notably, both the City of Cape Town and the City of Tshwane have proposed the introduction of new cleansing tariffs. Ironically, but unsurprisingly, these proposals have exposed stark contradictions in the DA’s policy positions, depending on whether the party governs or is in opposition.
TSHWANE
“In Tshwane, the proposed tariff is R194.37 per month and would ONLY apply to households and businesses that do not currently have a refuse removal account with the City of Tshwane. The proposed cleansing levy will not apply to those who have existing refuse removal services with the City of Tshwane, or to registered indigent households, low-income households with properties valued below R250,000 or vacant properties valued below R250,000” explained property professional, GOOD Councillor Sarah Mabotsa.
The aim is clear: ensure that all waste, particularly non-recycled waste, ends up in properly managed landfill sites. “The landfill sites are costly to maintain, and the tariff is designed to share the burden of cleaning illegal dumping and maintaining landfill infrastructure across users who have not been contributing to the City’s refuse removal services” said Councillor Mabotsa.
In Tshwane, DA Caucus leader Cilliers Brink, said he rejected the idea of a city cleansing levy and that “residents must reject the [Tshwane] mayor’s clean city tax.”
What Brink appears to overlook is the tariff is far less extensive than the DA’s own cleansing levy proposal in Cape Town.
CAPE TOWN
In stark contrast, in DA-run Cape Town, Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis is proposing a city-wide cleansing levy, which will apply to ALL rate-paying households, regardless of whether they already pay for refuse removal. This new fee will be structured as a sliding scale based on property values, mirroring how municipal rates are calculated.
Anton Louw, a registered tax practitioner and professional accountant and Councillor with GOOD in the Cape Town council, explained that “in Newlands for example, in addition to their property taxes and existing levies and utility costs, residents will now need to pay a further monthly amount of between R360.91 and R1,300.10 excl VAT for the Cape Town cleaning tariff.”
But this tariff does not equate to any new or additional services received. A local DA Ward councillor told Cape Town residents, “It’s important to understand that there is no ‘new, improved’ cleansing service. The cleansing service will remain the same.”
The cleansing levy is in addition to the water and electricity fixed levies that are already in place in Cape Town. “Cape Town households where the property is valued at R3 million and above can expect an 11% to more than 20% increase in the cost of municipal rates and services each month from July, according to the City of Cape Town’s rates and tariff calculator” explained Councillor Louw.
The position of the DA on local taxation is schizophrenic.
This is not the first time the DA oppose, in opposition, that which they implement where they govern.
• In Johannesburg, the DA opposed a R200 fixed electricity charge, but in Cape Town, the party implemented a R339 fixed electricity levy.
• In 2020, the DA supported a 5.5% increase for Councillors in Cape Town, while opposing a 4% increase in eThekwini.
This inconsistency raises serious questions about the DA’s credibility on local taxation. When in government, the DA implements levies and charges it fiercely resists while in opposition. The party’s approach to cleansing tariffs is a clear case of political convenience over policy consistency.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Both Budgets are open for public comment.
Cape Town residents have until the 2nd of May to make submissions.
Tshwane residents have until 3pm on 5 May to comment.
Media Enquiries:media@forgood.org