City of Johannesburg Eases Burden on the Poor with Balanced 2025/2026 Tariffs
In a move that reflects a commitment to social equity and service sustainability, the City of Johannesburg has announced its approved tariffs for the 2025/2026 financial year. The budget, passed under the leadership of the Government of Local Unity (GLU), balances the pressing need to fund essential services with a strong focus on protecting the city’s most vulnerable residents.
Through a suite of targeted rebates and modest increases on municipal services, the GLU is attempting to ensure that the cost of living does not push indigent households further into hardship. Rebates have been specifically crafted for pensioners, people with disabilities, and child-headed households—groups identified as bearing the greatest financial strain in the current economic climate.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Finance, Cllr Margaret Arnolds, praised the City’s effort to keep property rate increases relatively low compared to other metros, while introducing tailored relief measures to promote fairness and inclusivity. The following is the official press release issued by the City.
PRESS RELEASE
Government of Local Unity Seeks to Relieve the Poor Through Balanced Tariffs
The City of Johannesburg has passed the tariffs for 2025/2026 alongside the budget. The tariffs are set in a manner that ensures on one hand the City prioritises provision of essential services, and on the other hand ensures that the most impoverished communities are protected.
The Government of Local Unity (GLU) has supported the rebates particularly for indigent communities and is calling for those residents who qualify to apply to receive the benefits.
Cllr Margaret Arnolds, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Finance, says she is pleased that the City ensured that property tariff is set at 4.6%, making it one of the lowest increases in comparison to other metros in the country.
“The City’s GLU is happy with a number of rebates which have been passed to caution our residents such as pensioners, people living with disability and child-headed households which are under a lot of financial strain,” says Cllr Arnolds.
The City has passed tariffs for municipal services as follows:
- Electricity is set at 12.74%
- Water and Sewer is set at 13.9%
- Refuse is set at 6.6%
- Property Rates is set at 4.6%
In an effort to shield the working and struggling households, the City has passed the following rebates:
Residential Rebates
- The first R300,000 of all residential property values is exempt from rating.
- For residential property owners with multiple properties, the property with the highest value will receive the full residential threshold rebate. For additional properties, the rebate will be capped at R15,000.
Pensioners Aged Between 60–69 Years
- Pensioners whose gross monthly income is R13,049 or less are eligible for a 100% rebate on properties valued up to R1.5 million.
- Pensioners whose gross monthly income is between R13,049 and R22,367 qualify for a 50% rebate for properties with a market value up to R1.5 million.
- Pensioners earning above R22,367 are not eligible for a rebate.
- Rates will be levied on properties with market value more than R1.5 million.
Pensioners Aged 70 and Above
- Pensioners aged 70 and above qualify for a 100% rebate on properties valued up to R2 million, irrespective of their income level.
Cllr Arnolds says to encourage regular payments of municipal services, the rebate applications will only be processed if the account is not in arrears, unless there is a dispute or payment arrangement in place.
“We need to inculcate the culture of payment. Should the customer default on a payment arrangement, the City reserves the right to withdraw the rebate. The rebate serves as a reward for property owners who keep their accounts up to date,” says Cllr Arnolds.
