JPOMA GM Angela Rivers attended the IBT Summit on 3 February 2026.
The IBT Presidential Summit brought together government, industry, financiers, researchers, innovators, and communities to shape a national agenda for accelerating the adoption of Innovative Building Technologies in South Africa. https://ibtsummit.co.za/
Key takeaways 1) We need more creative, cooperative, quicker, better, cheaper housing. 2) We need more decent housing in functioning human settlements.
Innovation in the building sector is a critical!
Challenges Facing the Implementation of IBTS and Intervening Mechanisms in South Africa Panel discussion
Key points: What are the barriers? Research, sustainability, climate change, transition to more sustainable concepts, education, construction delays, policy, scaling, social acceptance. Solutions Climate resilience products, 3D printing of houses, precinct-level interventions, green buildings, collaboration, local government needs to be included as they drive implementation.
Barriers Associated with IBTs and Applied Measures and Interventions Panel discussion
Key points: Need to encourage new innovation through design, inspect and certify. It is not about project delivery it is about the process and we need to get communities involved from the beginning. Community investment is everything. Regulation does not support quick innovation, Regulation has not kept up with the pace of innovation. There needs to be more support in the transition from informal to formal housing. New technology needs to support job creation
Ms. Tandi Mahambehlala Deputy Minister of Human SettlementsMs. Thembi Simelane Minister of Human SettlementsH.E President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa
By Chantelle Gladwin-Wood (Partner), Lauren Squier (Partner) and Maike Gohl (Partner) 30 January 2026
(Case No: 2022/20074)
The High Court has confirmed its precedent judgment and has, for the second time, dismissed the City of Johannesburg’s attempt to charge business rates to residential property owners.
Partners, Chantelle Gladwin-Wood, Maike Gohl and Lauren Squier of HBGSchindlers Attorneys (acting for the Second Respondent in the matter) are pleased to announce the dismissal of an application for leave to appeal which was brought against a judgment of the High Court in Johannesburg upholding a decision by the Valuation Appeal Board regarding the categorisation of residential sectional title properties for rating purposes.
The categorisation of the residential properties as sectional title business would have resulted in substantially higher rates being charged to the residential property owners, 4 times in excess of the sectional title residential rate.
This judgment serves to confirm (for the second time) that the appropriate rate to be charged to the property owners was sectional title residential, and it reinforces the legal position that municipal valuations and categorisations must be consistent with valuation principles and the law. The judgments handed down have prevented the City of Johannesburg and the Municipal Valuer from categorising other residential properties as business in the manner attended in this matter.
HBGSchindlers Attorneys are pleased with the outcome of this matter which sets a legal precedent and is a triumph for not only the Second Respondent, but for all owners of residential sectional title property within the City of Johannesburg alike.
On the 10th of October, Executive Mayor, Dada Morero met with inner-city property owners to share rapid progress on the High-Impact Service Delivery Programme in the CBD.
JPOMA GM Angela Rivers reiterated the critical need to sort out the billing crisis. Rivers also challenged the Mayor and his bomb squad to spend actual time in Revenue, City Power and Joburg Water, so they can get a real sense of what is happening on the ground. Based on the trust deficit and no sense of urgency in council, there is an urgent need for real intervention.
Following this engagement, the City of Joburg held an Open Day on 17 October, for Inner City property owners and residents to address their billing issues.
Following the 6th meeting of the Joburg Crisis Alliance, Angela Rivers General Manager of the Johannesburg Property Managers Association (JPOMA), told the M&G there is cautious optimism based on whether the committee can provide real accountability and community involvement to residents eager for change.
Rivers said there is a historical pattern in Johannesburg of plans being announced with much fanfare but faltering at the implementation stage.
“For meaningful change to occur, these structures need to overcome bureaucratic inertia, ensure transparency, and integrate private sector expertise. Without these shifts, there’s a risk they may repeat the mistakes of past initiatives that promised legacy benefits but delivered limited long-term impact” she said.
