ActionSA Welcomes High Court’s Judgment Declaring the DA-led City of Cape Town’s Fixed Tariffs Invalid and Unlawful
Press Statement by Dereleen James MP
ActionSA Western Cape Chairperson
ActionSA welcomes today’s High Court judgment against the DA-led City of Cape Town, which confirms that the City’s charges for the city-wide cleaning levy, as well as water and sewage fixed tariffs in the 2025/2026 budget, are unlawful and invalid.
It is deeply unfortunate that Cape Town’s ratepayers are now burdened with the cost order resulting from the City’s decision to take this matter to court. This judgment underscores the consequences of poor decision-making and governance, which ultimately place unnecessary financial pressure on residents.
ActionSA cautions the City not to appeal this judgment, but rather to accept the court’s findings and act in the best interests of residents, and not waste another cent on a matter of its own making.
Capetonians know all too well that the affordability crisis in the City is spiralling out of control. This ruling presents a critical opportunity to urgently rethink tariff structures and, more importantly, to provide meaningful relief to hard-pressed households that the City appears intent on further burdening.
ActionSA calls on the City to use this moment as a turning point to prioritise fairness and affordability in its policies, and to ensure that residents are no longer forced to pay the price for unlawful decisions.
ActionSA Welcomes High Court’s Judgment Declaring the DA-led City of Cape Town’s Fixed Tariffs Invalid and Unlawful
ActionSA welcomes today’s High Court judgment against the DA-led City of Cape Town, which confirms that the City’s charges for the city-wide cleaning levy, as well as water and sewage fixed tariffs in the 2025/2026 budget, are unlawful and invalid.
It is deeply unfortunate that Cape Town’s ratepayers are now burdened with the cost order resulting from the City’s decision to take this matter to court. This judgment underscores the consequences of poor decision-making and governance, which ultimately place unnecessary financial pressure on residents.
ActionSA cautions the City not to appeal this judgment, but rather to accept the court’s findings and act in the best interests of residents, and not waste another cent on a matter of its own making.
Capetonians know all too well that the affordability crisis in the City is spiralling out of control. This ruling presents a critical opportunity to urgently rethink tariff structures and, more importantly, to provide meaningful relief to hard-pressed households that the City appears intent on further burdening.
ActionSA calls on the City to use this moment as a turning point to prioritise fairness and affordability in its policies, and to ensure that residents are no longer forced to pay the price for unlawful decisions.