GOOD seeks legal advice over Cape Town tariff refunds after high court ruling

By Akani Nkuna

The GOOD Party is seeking legal advice on whether to take further court action to force the City of Cape Town to refund residents for fixed water, sanitation and cleaning charges declared unlawful by the Western Cape High Court.

In a statement on Monday, GOOD secretary-general Brett Herron said the city had collected a significant amount of money through an unlawful tariff scheme introduced from July 2025, and that residents should be refunded for charges already imposed.

“[T]he unlawful tariff scheme targeted groups of people for extra payments they simply cannot afford, including those who have inherited property or whose property values have escalated exponentially due to gentrification or development,” he said.

“If the mayor were allowed to charge residents whatever he wishes, it would effectively force members of these groups to consider downgrading their accommodation – the diametric opposite of development.”

The statement follows a Western