City of Tshwane to appeal cleansing levy judgment

The city received a scathing judgment last week from the Gauteng High Court for not complying with its own legislation by introducing the tariff.

The City of Tshwane will appeal a court ruling that declared its R194-a-month city cleansing levy unlawful.

The city received a scathing judgment last week from the Gauteng High Court for not complying with its own legislation by introducing the tariff.

The court challenge was brought forward by lobby group AfriForum.

For its case, the Tshwane municipality hired three advocates with the title of senior counsel, the highest designation attainable by a lawyer.

Despite this, acting judge George Avvakoumides said they put up a “completely unmeritorious” case and slapped them with a cost order.

In its papers, the city said the cleansing levy will be charged to residents and businesses that use private waste collection.

However, AfriForum successfully argued the city cannot impose a surcharge for a service it does not render.

The Tshwane MMC for Environment and Agriculture, Obakeng Ramabodu, said the city remains steadfast in its belief that revenue generated from the levy will assist in the maintenance of its landfill sites, which are used by everyone.