The City of Cape Town has sought to amend its budget following a myriad of complaints from residents. Earlier today, mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis tabled the metro’s revised fiscal framework for the 2025/26 financial year, during a full council sitting.

The municipality’s officials went back to the drawing board after thousands of irate ratepayers vented their outrage at the proposed tariff hikes.

City accused of using same tactics as Trump to hike Cape Town tariffs

Some of the key changes include the expansion of rates relief to homes valued up to R7 million and the raising of pensioner support thresholds. Cleaning and water charges are also reduced, with bills being lowered by between 15 and 40%, with 97% of ratepayers avoiding steep increases.

THE EXPANDED RELIEF MEASURES IN DETAIL:

– Extending the ‘first R450 000 rates-free’ benefit to all homes up to R7 million property valuation (up from R5m)
– More pensioners to benefit by raising qualifying threshold to R27 000 monthly income per household (up from R22 000), regardless of property value, SA’s widest criteria for pensioner support.
– Significantly reducing City-wide Cleaning charges for all residential properties under R20m compared to the tabled March 2025/26 budget. A pensioner rebate for City-Wide Cleaning has also been included which will offer up to 100% off this charge.
– Lower fixed water charges for property value bands between R1m and R25m compared to the March tabled budget draft

The above relief measures will lead to lower total monthly bills compared to the March budget approximately as follows (based on average consumption patterns):

– R1.2m home: up to 15% lower
– R2m home: up to 24% lower
– R3m – R4m homes: up to 33% lower
– R5-7m homes: up to 40% lower

Residents can have their say by submitting their comments before the 13th of June, before the revised draft budget’s changes get implemented.

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HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS?

Online: www.capetown.gov.za/HaveYourSay
Email: budget.comments@capetown.gov.za
Phone: 0800 212 176
In person: Subcouncil office

View the updated Cape Town Rates Calculator: https://web1.capetown.gov.za/web1/rtcalc/