The City of Cape Town’s recently introduced monthly cleaning fee – branded as a “city-wide cleaning sundry tariff” – has drawn strong criticism from residents and legal experts, with growing concerns over its legality and fairness.
Despite the additional charges, residents report no new or improved cleaning services, leaving many to question what exactly they’re paying for.
“Although this is an additional charge… there are no new services that are going to be offered with this fee,” said Rowan Terry, Senior Legal Counsel at TPN Credit Bureau.
Explainer
For those unsure as to what’s going on, if you look at your most recent Municipal invoice for July 2025, scroll all the way to the bottom for a new section called ‘Sundries’ where you will spot an amount for ‘City-wide cleaning’.
That amount owing will vary depending on the band in which your property value falls.
While the ‘Sundries’ section may not tell you what that band is, if you scroll up to the Water or Sewerage sections, you should see the property value band your home falls into listed.
In addition, you will notice those ‘Fixed basic charges’ (for water and sewerage) that have been in place for some time now, have changed (not necessarily for the better).
Meanwhile, under the Electricity section, there is a new ‘Service and wires charge’ which seemingly has replaced the old ‘Home User Charge’ – and also gone up in price.
Finally, the ‘refuse charge’ under the Refuse section has also increased, so you’ll be paying more for having to go retrieve your bin from down the road.
What is the fee for?
The City says the tariff aims to tackle litter and maintain public spaces like streets and parks, but critics argue it’s essentially a tax disguised as a service fee.
More controversially, the fee is not linked to actual municipal service usage – it’s calculated based on the municipal valuation of the property, regardless of how much waste a household generates.
Legal challenges mount
The South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA) has launched an urgent legal application to have the fee set aside, branding it unconstitutional.
Similarly, AfriForum has stated it will challenge the legality of the tariff, citing concerns that it may infringe on residents’ rights by charging for services not rendered.
“SAPOA has launched an urgent application… They’re regarding [the fees] as unconstitutional,” said Terry.
Who pays? Landlords or tenants?
The rollout has also created confusion for landlords and tenants, especially regarding who is liable for the extra charge.
“If you want to pass this on to your tenant, you would need to look at the terms of your lease agreement,” Terry explained.
Landlords using TPN’s standard lease agreement – which defines cleaning charges as utilities – may have the legal footing to pass the cost on.
Others might face disputes or rent-related complications.
Public frustration growing
While the City maintains the fee is necessary to improve urban cleanliness, residents are becoming increasingly frustrated by rising municipal bills without tangible benefits.
With legal battles looming and pressure mounting, Cape Town’s ‘cleaning fee’ could soon find itself under judicial review – a case that could have wide implications for how municipalities levy service charges going forward.
Has your latest Municipal invoice gone up in price overall?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
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