City of Tshwane deputy mayor Eugene Modise photo by Dimakatso Modipa
On Thursday, 27 February 2025, Council passed the incentive and debt-relief scheme designed to discourage electricity meter tampering, colloquially known as illegal connections, and to increase revenue collection.
The National Treasury has set a threshold for revenue collection at 95%, and Tshwane’s collection rate is hovering at around 90%.
Various municipal customers, including government departments, big business and
residential customers owe Tshwane a cumulative R30 billion.
This amount is staggering and impedes effective service delivery.
It is against this backdrop that the
City of Tshwane decided to implement a debt relief programme, whose aim, inter alia, is to provide financial relief to hard-pressed, residents, businesses, deceased’s estates, indigent and child-headed households.
The programme, which came into effect this month, will run until June 2025.
Customers that voluntarily report
tampering with electricity meters will qualify for a tamper fee waiver, provided they agree to the installation of a new meter and a protective device.
Any other outstanding debt will be handled in accordance with the city’s credit control and debt collection policy.
The amnesty waiver on tampering and illegal connection ends on 31 March 2025.
The following will apply to residential customers:
• Residential customers that settle 12-months of municipal debt in full will qualify for a 70% debt write-off on any outstanding debt older than 12-months.
To qualify, the residential customer must arrange a structured payment plan for the remaining 30% of the principal debt, in line with the city’s credit control and debt collection policy.
• Residential customers that have debt that has aged for a period of less than 12 months, are required to settle the principal debt in full and qualify for a 100% interest written off.
• Residential customers with up-to-date accounts qualify for a 25% discount for visiting City-owned recreational facilities, such as the Rietvlei nature reserve, community halls, and swimming pools.
Simply present your latest municipal account statement to enjoy this benefit.
The scheme also accommodates businesses through its short-term and long-term business incentive.
Businesses that pay off three years of municipal debt in full, in a single payment, will receive a 100% debt write-off on any outstanding debt older than three years.
Businesses that owe the city for less than three years and can manage to pay the principal debt in full, will qualify for a 100% interest write-off.
Additionally, miscellaneous charges such
as final demand and disconnecting notices will be waived.
Our indigent customers and child-headed households will receive a 100% debt write-off.
However, customers are responsible for the payment of any consumption exceeding the allocated subsidy of 100kWh of electricity and 12kl of water.
The last category is the Deceased Estates.
These estates are required to settle municipal debt incurred within the last two years in full and then the city will write off any outstanding debt older than two years.
Necessary documentation must be submitted to the Deceased Estate section for approval.
Customers are encouraged to take-up this offer to bring their municipal accounts up to date, by visiting their nearest municipal office or send their settlement request to
creditcontrol@tshwane.gov.za or debtcollection@tshwane.gov.za.
Consumers can visit their nearest Customer Care Walk-In Centres to make payment arrangements.
Meanwhile, the city has completed the process to re-evaluate properties for the purpose of levying property rates and the new tariffs will come into effect from 1 July 2025.
In terms of Section 49(1)(a)(i) of the Local Government: Municipal Property Rates Act, 2004 (Act 6 of 2004), as amended, the Valuation Roll for the period 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2029
has been open for public inspection at the City of Tshwane offices since 26 February 2025 and will remain open until 2 May 2025.
Property Owners have been sent Section 49 notices to their domicile addresses.
The Valuation Roll is also available on the City of Tshwane website, www.tshwane.gov.za.
Residents are encouraged to inspect their updated property valuations, and lodge objections if they feel that the new values are not a true reflection of the market value of the property on
the date of valuation, which is 1 July 2024, by submitting an objection on the prescribed objection form.
This is meant to ensure that property owners are not price-gouged if there
have been changes to the value of their property.
Objection Forms are accessible on the
following link: https://propertyvaluations.tshwane.gov.za/Downloads.
The Valuation Roll can also be accessed
on the following link:
https://propertyvaluations.tshwane.gov.za/
Objections criteria of the valuation roll
• Objections must relate to individual properties, not the entire Valuation Roll.
• If your recently purchased property was purchased at a significantly lower price than the municipal valuation.
• If the average sale price of similar properties in the area is significantly lower.
• If private valuation of the property shows a discrepancy with the municipal
valuation.Documents needed for objections
• If your recently purchased property was purchased at a significantly lower price than the municipal valuation you need to provide a copy of the purchase
agreement.
• If the average sale price of similar properties in the area is significantly lower, estate agent reports or valuation reports compiled by a registered valuer should be submitted.
Review and Assessment process
• A municipal valuer will assess the merits of the submitted objections.
• A prompt decision will be made based on facts and the submissions of the objector.
• If additional verification is needed, a physical inspection of the property may be conducted
• If a change is made, it will be recorded in the valuation roll, and the affected objector will be informed accordingly.
• If an objector is dissatisfied with the municipal valuer’s decision, an appeal should be lodged within the prescribed timeframe after receiving the decision of the valuer.
For walk-in enquiries or assistance, here under is a list of regional offices where there is dedicated personnel who will provide clarity on the objection process and accept objection
forms from property owner: