Tshwane cleansing levy 'unfair double tax on residents', AfriForum
Civil rights organisation AfriForum says the implementation of the new city cleaning levy would result in an 'unfair double tax on residents'.
The lobby group is set to take the Tshwane Municipality to court to challenge the implementation of the new city cleaning levy.
The Tshwane council, which passed its annual budget for the 2025/2026 financial year last month, included the introduction of an additional monthly charge to residents using private waste collection services.
Cleaning levy
A monthly levy of approximately R200 is expected to be imposed on all properties that do not currently utilise the metro's refuse removal service, effective 1 July.
ALSO READ: Proposed cleaning levy sparks legal challenge in Tshwane
Last week, AfriForum, through its legal team, requested the metro to halt the levy pending the formulation of an alternative agreement or until the legal proceedings are concluded.
Legal action
AfriForum's advisor for local government affairs, Deidré Steffens, said they want the new city cleaning levy reviewed.
'We approached the metro shortly after the council announced the plans for the levy in March this year and stressed that implementing it would result in an unfair double tax. We gave the metro the opportunity to rectify the matter, but now, due to the metro's failure to respond, we have no choice but to approach the court to have the decision reviewed.
'The levy is presented as a so-called service-related fee. However, it is in reality an additional tax that owners must pay on top of the existing property tax that is used to finance non-revenue-generating services, such as street and neighbourhood cleaning,' Steffens said.
'Punishing residents'
AfriForum argues that the levy is not based on the level of usage as required by Section 74(2)(b) of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act.
The organisation further points out that the levy unfairly targets residents and businesses that do not use the municipal refuse collection service due to the metro's inefficient service delivery.
AfriForum's district coordinator for Pretoria South, Arno Roodt, maintains that the metro wants to 'punish residents for its inability to balance the city's budget.
'Rather than addressing the underlying causes of budget deficits, the metro is simply shifting the burden onto taxpayers, especially those who do not make use of the metro's inefficient service'.
Roodt added that AfriForum has submitted numerous proposals to the metro, suggesting ways to generate additional revenue based on actual usage, 'but the metro has turned a deaf ear to this.'
NOW READ: Pretoria High Court plunged into darkness after power outage
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Eyewitness News
10 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
Simelane accuses DA of shielding man suspected of murdering her sister
CAPE TOWN - As the Democratic Alliance (DA) on Wednesday insinuated that Minister Thembi Simelane is unfit to manage a more than R30 billion Human Settlements budget, she hit back at the party, accusing it of shielding a man suspected of murdering her sister in an apartheid-era crime more than 40 years ago. Simelane said the DA's criminal complaint against her had not resulted in any charges, and the call for her to be fired is part of attempts to detract from the good work she's doing. ALSO READ: Simelane lashes out at detractors, says she's been tried in court of public opinion The former justice minister found herself in the DA's crosshairs in 2024, following investigative media revelations that linked her to the siphoning of funds from the now-defunct VBS bank. At a media briefing ahead of delivering the budget for the Department of Human Settlements, Simelane said that to reject the budget would be to delay even further the provision of decent homes for the millions of people living in the country's 475 informal settlements. In response to corruption allegations against her, Simelane said she won't shirk accountability, but the DA is jumping the gun. 'Now, if an investigation is being done, and you reported the case, but you can't wait for the investigation to be concluded, you now want other things before the investigation. I fear I'm going to disappear, honestly.' Simelane alleged that a former DA representative was involved in her sister's disappearance and death in the 1980s. 'In 2016, when I managed to file charges against him, it was only then that the DA suspended him. Even on my calls to the DA to get a statement of murder against my sister, they didn't. In 2019, three years later, he died.' Simelane also slammed the DA's governance in the Western Cape, saying it had returned R200 million in unspent funds meant for housing.
IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
Tshwane's controversial cleansing levy faces court challenge
Legal battle looms on July 24 over the City of Tshwane's special "cleansing" levy, where households not using the municipal bin services will face paying a special levy. Image: File AfriForum is expected to face the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality in court on July 24 to stop the metro's decision to implement a so-called 'city cleansing levy'. With this levy, the metro intends to force almost 200,000 residential and more than 60,000 business property ratepayers to pay for a levy that AfriForum considers to be unfair double taxation. According to the metro's original communication, this levy was supposed to have kicked in on July 1. But AfriForum said it has since been informed that no recovery will be made before August 1. The levy will collect R194.37 per month from affected households, without offering any corresponding service delivery in return. AfriForum originally requested an urgent interdict in an attempt to stop the implementation before July 1, but following an agreement between it and the metro, the latter now has further opportunity to supplement their court documents. The urgent application is scheduled to be heard by the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria. At the heart of AfriForum's legal challenge is the question of why residents who do not use the city's waste removal services are being hit with an additional tax. AfriForum will argue that this levy amounts to nothing more than double taxation, as residents are already paying property rates which are supposed to fund 'city cleansing' services. In their court application, AfriForum argues that the City of Tshwane is trying to mask its financial mismanagement and budgetary failures by demanding more money from hard-working citizens under the guise of a 'cleansing'. The metro, represented by the Divisional Head of Waste Management, Louis Makhubele, in their answering affidavit labelled some ratepayers as 'freeloaders' and 'beneficiaries who make no contribution', but use the city's facilities. But AfriForum said these ratepayers are the backbone of Tshwane's income stream, contributing billions in property taxes and other tariffs annually. 'Yet the city chooses to scorn them for taking responsibility for their refuse removal when the municipality has consistently failed to deliver the service they are constitutionally obligated to provide,' said Arno Roodt, AfriForum's district coordinator for Greater Pretoria South. AfriForum warns that this issue in Tshwane is not an isolated case, but rather a symptom of a wider pattern of municipal collapse, where citizens are expected to carry the burden of dysfunctional administrations. The organisation argues that, if allowed to proceed unchecked, this levy will set a dangerous precedent for municipalities across South Africa to simply 'charge their way out' of failure, without accountability or actual service delivery.
IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
The death of a former Zambian president: diplomacy, grief and ubuntu
Esther Lungu, former president Edgar Lungu's wife, is grappling with grief and unanswered questions after his death. Image: Supplied Sifiso Sonjica The passing of a former head of state is invariably a profound and reflective moment for any nation. In Zambia, a country with a proud legacy of democratic governance, cultural reverence for elders and strong communal values, the death of a past president initiates a period of mourning, national reflection, and often, political reconciliation. Yet, as evidenced by the complex and contested death and burial of former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, such events also carry deep diplomatic, legal, and emotional implications. They unveil fault lines within the state, raise questions about family rights, and underscore the challenges of balancing state authority with the wishes of grieving relatives. Importantly, these events remind us of the African philosophy of Ubuntu, which emphasizes our shared humanity and moral obligation to care for one another. In light of this, I found it worthwhile reflecting on the events surrounding Edgar Lungu's death and burial, the diplomatic entanglements that followed, the grief endured by his family, and the lessons that the African continent can draw through the lens of Ubuntu. Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema. The Zambian government is trying to force the repatriation of former president Edgar Lungu's body. Image: AFP The death and the diplomacy around It Lungu, who was Zambia's sixth president from 2015 until 2021, died on June 5, 2025, at a hospital in Pretoria. He was receiving treatment for a rare esophageal condition when complications from surgery resulted in his death. In response, the Zambian government declared a seven-day period of national mourning, which was later extended by an additional nine days. Flags were lowered to half-mast, and a state funeral was planned in Lusaka, in line with national customs and protocols for former presidents. However, what was intended to be a respectful and unifying national homage quickly turned into a diplomatic dispute. A private family service was scheduled in Johannesburg, but the Pretoria High Court, acting on a request from the Zambian Attorney General, stopped the burial, asserting that Lungu, as a former head of state, was both legally and symbolically a representative of the Zambian nation and therefore deserved a state burial in his homeland. South African officials, caught between honoring the family's wishes and maintaining diplomatic decorum, expressed regret over the situation while advocating for a solution that would respect the deceased's dignity. This unforeseen international legal conflict created a complex diplomatic challenge, turning what should have been a sacred and solemn event into a politically charged and widely publicised confrontation. Zambian President Edgar Lungu. Image: Rogan Ward/Reuters Burial standoff: State versus family At the heart of this controversy was a tense standoff between the Zambian government and the family of the deceased president. The authorities were adamant about bringing Lungu's remains back for interment at Embassy Park, the official burial site for national leaders in Lusaka, citing both national customs and constitutional precedent. They maintained that a state funeral was not merely a formality but an essential expression of national identity and respect. In contrast, Lungu's family asserted that he had specifically requested that President Hakainde Hichilema not attend his funeral, due to unresolved issues and allegations of persecution after his presidency. They also criticized the government's approach, arguing that the personal wishes of the deceased and the emotional needs of the family were being overshadowed by political symbolism. On June 18, the family obstructed the repatriation of his body, alleging a violation of their agreement. The next day, President Hichilema declared the official end of national mourning, stating that it was no longer practical to indefinitely delay the funeral arrangements. Subsequently, on June 20, the family made the unprecedented choice to privately inter Lungu in South Africa, marking him as the first former Zambian president to be buried outside the nation. However, on June 25, the High Court intervened once more, suspending the burial until a final decision on jurisdiction could be made on August 4. This ongoing standoff highlights a complex conflict involving national identity, personal legacy, family grief, and legal jurisdiction. It evolved into more than just a burial; it became a confrontation between constitutional formalities and deeply personal mourning. Diplomatic undercurrents This unusual incident has also put a strain on the diplomatic ties between Zambia and South Africa. The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation expressed support for the family's desires but remarked that a state funeral in Zambia would be "most appropriate" for someone of Lungu's stature. Pretoria's repeated legal interventions highlighted the complexities involved in hosting a former foreign head of state and emphasized the necessity of adhering to international norms and cross-border legal frameworks. President Hichilema formally apologised to the South African government, describing the situation as "diplomatic embarrassment". His apology recognized that internal conflicts - stemming from Zambia's unresolved political tensions - had spilled over into the regional sphere, disrupting diplomatic decorum and potentially harming Zambia's reputation as a model for peaceful political transitions. This situation highlights the urgent need for African nations to establis hprotocols that balance state responsibilities with the sensitivities of grieving families, particularly in cases involving prominent national figures whose legacies elicit mixed public reactions. Family's pain and public grief In the aftermath of his passing, the Lungu family has been engulfed in grief, exacerbated by public attention, legal challenges, and political unrest. They have faced intense media scrutiny, public discussions, and legal orders that have repeatedly interrupted their mourning. Most poignantly, reports have surfaced indicating that some family members have encountered travel bans and pressure from various political figures. Makibi Zulu, a family representative, poignantly remarked, 'Perhaps this time, Edgar has refused to be laid to rest without the truth being revealed.' This sentiment captures the family's view that Lungu's death has become a disputed story, highlighting deeper issues within Zambia's political landscape. Unverified claims of poisoning and systemic harassment have further politicised his death, complicating the family's quest for closure. As they navigate both personal loss and public controversy, the Lungu family's suffering underscores the challenge of disentangling the personal from the political in the life - and death - of a public figure. Their sorrow has become a symbol of a wider national discomfort, as citizens grapple with how to honour leadership in a time of divided memories. Ubuntu and pathways to healing The African concept of Ubuntu, often translated as 'I am because we are,' provides a vital framework for how such national moments can be approached with compassion, dignity, and unity. Ubuntu calls for empathy, shared humanity, and communal responsibility - values that are indispensable in moments of grief and division. As such, African societies must prioritize empathy over politics when national figures pass. Grieving families deserve support and space to mourn. This principle applies regardless of one's political alignment or opinions of the deceased's legacy. More so, the death or burial of a leader should not inflame tensions. Elders, traditional leaders, and mediators must facilitate respectful dialogue between state officials and families to avoid conflict and ensure dignity for all parties. This is important in balancing state honour with family customs. Most importantly, I am of the view that African Union and SADC should consider formal protocols for cross-border funerals of former leaders to prevent similar disputes and ensure that such events foster unity rather than discord.
