Why Cape Town still has fixed water charges after its April court defeat

Cape Town’s court defeat over municipal charges did not end the need to scrutinise the monthly bill. The City’s published 2026/27 tariff books still contain fixed water and sewerage charges, but their calculation has changed. For a domestic account with a 12mm, 15mm, 20mm or 22mm meter, the published monthly amounts are R103.65 for water and R56.66 for sewerage, including VAT, where both charges apply.

That is R160.31 before consumption charges. It is not a universal household bill: the schedules distinguish domestic and other customers, meter sizes and relief categories. Indigent properties are excluded from the ordinary domestic fixed water charge, while the sanitation schedule expressly records no charge for indigent and registered backyard customers. Residents should check their account’s category and benefits before comparing amounts. Water schedule, section 11.2; sanitation schedule, section 6.3.

What the court defeat changed

On 30 April 2026, the Western Cape High Court declared the City’s disputed 2025/26 cleaning, water and sewerage charges unlawful and invalid. The order set the challenged charges aside with effect from 30 June. That is the narrow finding recorded in the published judgment’s order. It should not be presented as a fresh election-day ruling.

The City subsequently amended its budget. Its final June Annexure B identifies the changes as implementation of the High Court ruling: city-wide cleaning for residential properties and vacant land would be funded through property rates; fixed water and sanitation charges based on property-value bands were removed; and replacement fixed charges were set by meter size. Cleaning therefore still has to be funded, even though the standalone tariff was removed. Annexure B, pages 8–13.

The distinction between documents matters. The March tabled budget was a proposal made before the judgment. The June books are part of the original budget adopted for the financial year beginning 1 July. Using a March property-value table to explain a current water account would revive a superseded charging method. The City’s budget page separates the original budget from subsequent adjustments.

The City’s response belongs in the account

In its 27 May response, the City said it would not appeal. Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis argued that reverting to meter size would increase fixed charges for some lower-value properties and reduce them for higher-value ones. The City proposed larger relief and adjustments to consumption charges to cushion that effect, while keeping infrastructure projects. These were the City’s reasons for its response, rather than a finding that every household would pay less. The dated City statement.

The final budget documents record a residential property-rates reduction of R620,000, including the statutory reduction, increased from R500,000 in the March tabled budget. They also record a shift towards higher consumption charges for high-usage domestic customers. Relief on one line can therefore coexist with a rise elsewhere. A household’s total depends on its valuation, category, usage and qualifying benefits. Final Annexure B.

Three checks for residents

1. Match the period and meter. Compare the billed month and recorded meter size with the final domestic schedule. A partial period or a different customer category needs a different comparison.
2. Separate fixed charges from usage. The monthly meter-based charge and the charge for kilolitres consumed are separate. Confirm the readings and consumption period before judging the total.
3. Check the valuation and relief. The final rates schedule uses General Valuation 2025. Ask the City to explain the property category, reduction and benefits applied to the account. Final property-rates schedule.

The accountability test is whether the City’s adopted policy, billing records and household relief agree. The court outcome warrants scrutiny of that implementation. It does not, on its own, establish that a particular current account is wrong or that a resident has a refund entitlement.

Continue reading

• Eight metros, no clean audits: the record facing the next councils
• The Western Cape is no party’s property
• Follow the dated updates in TPR’s live election coverage