By Nkhensani Chauke
The City of Joburg will give a once-off property rates adjustment for residents owning multiple properties.
The adjustment will appear on the July 2025 municipal statements, according to City of Johannesburg spokesperson Kgamanyane Maphologela.
It stems from the implementation of Section 6.3.5 of the 2024/2025 Property Rates Policy, in alignment with Section 15 and 17(1) (h) of the Municipal Property Rates Act, No.6 of 2004.
According to the city’s approved rates policy, residential property owners spontaneously receive a reduction on the first R300 000 of their property’s market value.
“For owners with multiple residential properties, on the other hand, this rebate structure is applied only to the primary property with the highest value. All additional/secondary residential properties linked to the owner qualify for a reduced rebate of R15,000 only on each additional property,” he said.
Maphologela added that the property rates change could not be applied to secondary property owners from 1 July 2024 due to system upgrades.
“Instead, implementation of the amended rates began in December 2024, with retrospective adjustments being processed to account for the initial months of the financial year (July to November 2024),” he said.
Impacted customers would notice a once-off adjustment on their municipal accounts, demonstrating the distinction for the July to November 2024 period with an adjustment around R1083,60 depending on individual property values.
“The city is aware that this adjustment may place a temporary financial strain on some customers and, therefore, extends an invitation to all affected property owners to engage the city on reasonable payment arrangements,” said Maphologela.
The city apologised for any inconvenience caused and assured residents that it was taking steps to ensure clarity around property rates policies and billing system changes in the future.
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