Article re-cap
- Civic groups, including STOP CoCT, argue that linking fixed sanitation charges to water meter size is unfair because meters do not remove sewage from a property.
- Finance Mayco member Siseko Mbandezi and Water and Sanitation Mayco member Dr Zahid Badroodien both defended the tariff structure, saying around 90% of water and sanitation costs are fixed in nature.
- Dr Badroodien explained that the fixed charge covers infrastructure including reservoirs, pipelines, sewer networks, pump stations and wastewater treatment works, and that residential sanitation charges include a usage component based on 70% of measured water consumption.
- The City currently recovers about 17% of fixed costs through the fixed charge and 83% through volumetric charges.
- A Western Cape High Court ruling found the City's previous fixed charges unlawful following a case brought by SAPOA and AfriForum, prompting the City to redesign its tariff structure rather than appeal.
City of Cape Town watchdog groups are questioning the fairness of new sanitation tariffs that base fixed charges on water meter sizes.
Ratepayer groups and civic organisations, including STOP CoCT, have renewed criticism regarding the municipality's decision to link fixed sanitation charges to the size of a property's water meter. The dispute centres on whether larger meters justify higher fixed costs for sewage services.
According to Sandra Dickson, founder of STOP CoCT, water meters do not remove sewage from a property as wastewater is carried away through separate connections. She stated that sanitation costs are affected by wastewater volumes, the number of users, sewer capacity, and effluent type rather than just the bore size of a drinking water meter.
Dickson noted that a property with a 25mm water meter pays almost 2.8 times the sanitation fixed charge of a property with a 22mm meter, while a 40mm meter attracts more than seven times the charge. She argued that using meter size may be for administrative convenience rather than reflecting actual sewerage costs.
Finance Mayco member Siseko Mbandezi defended the Council approved structure, stating that the fixed charge helps recover the costs of providing and maintaining services regardless of usage. He said approximately 90% of the costs of providing water and sanitation services are fixed in nature.
Dr Zahid Badroodien, the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, offered further context on the tariff structure, explaining via X that the fixed charge covers the cost of maintaining reservoirs, pipelines, sewer networks, pump stations and wastewater treatment works. He added that residential sanitation charges also include a usage component based on 70% of measured water consumption.
Mbandezi explained that using meter size is an established utility tariff principle used locally and internationally to reflect the level of network capacity reserved for different categories. He added that the City currently recovers about 17% of costs through fixed charges and 83% through volumetric charges.
The tariff overhaul follows a Western Cape High Court ruling that found the City's previous fixed charges for water, sanitation and city-wide cleaning were unlawful. The case was brought by the South African Property Owners Association and AfriForum, who argued the charges functioned as a second property tax. The court ordered the City to remove the charges by 30 June. Rather than appeal, the City amended its draft budget and reopened it for public comment before adopting it.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the City of Cape Town linking fixed sanitation charges to water meter size?
The City says using meter size is an established utility tariff principle that reflects the level of network capacity reserved for each property, used both locally and internationally.
What does the fixed sanitation charge actually cover?
According to Dr Zahid Badroodien, the fixed charge covers the cost of maintaining reservoirs, pipelines, sewer networks, pump stations and wastewater treatment works.
Why did the City overhaul its tariff structure?
The Western Cape High Court ruled that the City's previous fixed charges for water, sanitation and city-wide cleaning were unlawful, following a case brought by SAPOA and AfriForum. The court ordered their removal by 30 June, and the City chose to amend its draft budget rather than appeal.
How much of sanitation costs does the fixed charge recover?
The City currently recovers about 17% of fixed costs through the fixed charge and 83% through volumetric usage charges.
Source: iol.co.za, timeout.com
