The City of Tshwane will reverse its controversial monthly R194 cleansing levy on properties using private waste collectors by crediting affected residents’ municipal accounts, but will not provide cash refunds.

The city is backing down on its cleansing levy after it was deemed unlawful by the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, following a legal action by AfriForum. 

AfriForum argued in court that the levy was unfair double taxation, especially for those already paying private waste collectors. 

The civic organisation also called on Tshwane to immediately stop placing the illegal levy on residents’ accounts and to refund all amounts collected in full.

The city maintains it was trying to ensure a fair contribution to cleansing services, but AfriForum sees this as a victory against municipal overreach.

The city had planned to generate revenue through this levy, expecting to collect an additional R540 million.

Municipal spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the city will comply with a high court ruling to stop imposing the R194 per month levy on properties using private waste collectors. 

This comes after the city reported last month that it hit a milestone by collecting R4 billion in revenue for the first time in a single month.

Mashigo said the court order represents a significant setback in Tshwane’s efforts to recover the operational costs of maintaining a clean and healthy environment for all communities within the city.

“The high court ruled that the operation and execution of its initial July 31, 2025 order – which set aside the city’s implementation of the cleansing levy following a challenge by AfriForum – must be given effect. This ruling compelled the city to cease imposing the R194 per month levy on properties using private waste collectors,” he said.

He said the city respects the court’s decision and will comply with it.

“To this end, the city will no longer charge the cleansing levy to customers who are not using the city’s waste management services. The reversal and crediting of all the affected accounts will be actioned accordingly. The city has already commenced with this process and it is anticipated that it will be finalised soon,” he said.

He added that relevant teams have been notified and are prepared to implement the required adjustments to ensure complete adherence to the current legal position.

“The city remains guided by constitutional principles of accountability, responsible financial management and respect for judicial authority. It will continue to engage affected stakeholders to ensure clear communication and uninterrupted municipal operations,” Mashigo said.

Cilliers Brink, DA Tshwane mayoral candidate, called on the city to suspend credit control on municipal accounts that are charged a city cleansing levy in light of the judgement.

“The metro should also cease all threats of legal action and service cut-offs against affected residents, including SMS and email admonishments,” he said.

He said the judgment prevented Tshwane from implementing the so-called city cleansing levy pending the outcome of the matter before the Supreme Court of Appeal.

“Afriforum won the initial case against the levy in the Gauteng High Court in August, but Tshwane decided to appeal the matter to the Supreme Court of Appeal. This suspended the high court judgment pending the outcome of the appeal, but Afriforum’s second court win, achieved this, reverses the rules: the city cleansing levy cannot be implemented pending the outcome of the appeal,” Brink said.

He added that residents and households should not bear the brunt of the confusion until the legality of the city cleansing levy is resolved.

“Such a suspension will not give residents a licence not to pay bills that are lawfully due, but it will protect already overburdened consumers from being shaken down for debts that aren’t due,” he said.

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za

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