by Angela Rivers | Feb 2, 2026 | News
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.
by Angela Rivers | Jul 8, 2024 | News
On the 26th of June, the City of Joburg hosted the Inner City Partnership Forum.
Presentations were made by CoJ entities as well as the Private Sector.
JPOMA General Manager, Angela Rivers, presented JPOMA’s work, highlighting the two court cases against CoJ and reiterating that JPOMA is very willing to work with CoJ on issues such as problem properties and the billing crisis.
by Angela Rivers | Apr 12, 2023 | News
PUBLIC NOTICE
CITY OF JOHANNESBURG
WARD 102
HAVE YOUR SAY
MAKE A REQUEST
ESCALATE AN ISSUE
The draft Integrated Development Plan (IDP), budget & tariffs for 2023/2024 are out for comment.
The proposed tariff increases for 2023/24 are:
• Rates +5.3% (plus adjustment in value of property)
• The discount of R350 000 off the residential property value has been reduced to R300 000.
• Water +9.3%
• Sewer +9.3%
• Refuse +7%
• Power +18.64%
• Big changes to pensioner rebates
Also note that the IDP meetings are the place for Capital Expenditure requests for the next few years. These are things like resurfacing roads, upgrading central business districts, installing new power cables, traffic calming, new bridges, fixing old bridges, river bank stabilisation, new clinics/taxi ranks, park upgrades, etc. Budgets are very limited, so you will need to keep following up over several (or longer) years.
To ensure broad stakeholder participation and ensure everyone has a chance to comment, a meeting in Region B will be held using hybrid platforms that allow for both in-person and virtual attendance (although it is recommended you go in person).
*IDP/BUDGET MEETING *
Sat 15 April 2023
11:00 -13:00
CORONATIONVILLE HALL (15 Caledon St)
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jw574v4dPUD1pf2t9?g_st=ic
Online MS Teams link: http://bit.ly/4165vAn
You can also visit stands manned by various CoJ entities beforehand from 9-11am. They will advise & help if you have any service delivery issues.
SUBMISSION OF QUERIES, COMMENTS & REQUESTS
The City welcomes your inputs into the below documents.
• At the meeting.
• Email idpcomments2023@joburg.org.za or ratescomments2023@joburg.org.za
• Online form https://share.hsforms.com/1MtZNRpjySKu4_SFH9lfogA469tl
Note that you have until 9 May 2023 to submit inputs.
READ THE VARIOUS RELATED DOCUMENTS
IDP – https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YFEcnZAEEdhRtI2JdPl0dQGiaCV4E0RD/view?usp=drivesdk
Draft Rates & Tariffs – https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CkE7oTt0gePgYP9Vj0wHbI_aSCBxJLe8/view?usp=drivesdk
Property Rates – https://drive.google.com/file/d/11GVqkxTay8OTaca-OC6NP4YUZZ0TPxH2/view?usp=drivesdk
Includes info on Pensioner Rebate changes (page 26 & page 27)
(Info compiled by Cllr David Potter, 10/04/2023)
by Angela Rivers | Sep 16, 2022 | News
In the press:
Saturday Star, 9 September 2022
The City of Joburg is once again being taken to court by the residential housing industry over billing issues, this time along with its water supplier Johannesburg Water, regarding problematic sewerage charges.
Backbilling and a disputed change in the sewerage tariff structure of many inner city residential buildings has sent thousands of residents’ accounts soaring, resulting in a sewerage claim amounting to about R22 million. Similar issues are behind a court application already in place against COJ over a refuse-removal bill of R21m.
Read the full article HERE.
Listen to Thabiso Kotane in conversation with Angela Rivers on 98.7 Power Drive HERE
Thabiso Kotane speaks to Angela Rivers, MD of the Johannesburg Property Owners and Managers Association (JPOMA) about billing issues in the City of Johannesburg. The City of Joburg (CoJ) is racking up huge legal costs by failing to address billing issues raised by residents timeously, before they reach the courts. It routinely opposes applications, which it then loses with costs – which are paid out of revenue squeezed out of ratepayers. This is a vicious cycle that results in a further burden of unfair tariff increases that residents have no choice but to shoulder, according to the Johannesburg Property Owners and Managers Association (JPOMA).
PUBLISHED: Wednesday 14 September 2022
