Ward 106 Chris Santana has launched a petition on behalf of residents urging the City of Johannesburg to urgently review and reduce sewerage charges applied to multi-dwelling residential properties.

The petition seeks to address what residents describe as unfair and discriminatory billing practices that place a disproportionate financial burden on those living in townhouses, retirement villages, and sectional title units.
So far, the petition has been signed by more than 2 000 people.

Read more: Sewage, potholes, streetlights burning 24/7 – wheres JW, JRA, and City Power?

According to Santana, multi-dwelling units are currently charged a minimum of R697.73 (excluding VAT) per unit per month, while single dwellings on erven up to 300m² pay R358.42 (excluding VAT) per month.

He said residents argue that the flat-rate structure fails to consider actual unit sizes or sewerage usage. He added that many multi-dwelling units, particularly in affordable housing developments and retirement villages, range from 23m² to 100m², yet they pay the same rate as larger units of up to 230m².

“This blanket approach is illogical and unjust. It punishes smaller, efficient households while ignoring the realities of size and usage.”

He said petitioners also take issue with the city’s method of calculating the ‘effective erf size’ by dividing the total land area by the number of units, arguing that this does not accurately reflect service usage or infrastructure load.

Also read: Kisumu Park Playground hit by sewage spill again

Santana said the policy has created a situation where residents who follow proper building processes and connect to municipal services are charged more than those living in informal or unapproved structures, which often receive services free of charge.

“This approach undermines the city’s goals of promoting formalisation, affordability, and densification. It discourages lawful development and inadvertently encourages illegal building practices.”

The petition notes that the current tariff structure contradicts Johannesburg’s stated objectives of encouraging inclusive, sustainable, and higher-density housing.

“Multi-dwelling developments are vital to achieving a well-planned, affordable, and serviced city. Yet current sewerage charges penalise residents of such developments, many of whom are pensioners or working families trying to live responsibly.”

The city’s spokesperson, Nthatisi Modingoane, has been contacted for comment. The article will be updated once received.

Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates!