According to Pikitup, the entity responsible for municipal waste management services, refuse collection tariffs were determined based on property values.
The tariff structure has properties categorised according to their value, resulting in residents’ tariffs varying based on the value of the property.
“The property values below R200 000 do not pay for refuse collection and the top tier, being properties with values in excess of R1.5 million, pay R222.93 [excluding VAT],” explained Clement Erasmus, Pikitup’s general manager for Commercial Collections and Queries.
According to the 2013/14 charges for domestic waste inclusive of VAT, properties valued from R200 001 to R300 000 are charged R104.22 and those valued from R300 001 to R500 000 are charged R121.36, while properties ranging from R500 001 to R700 000 are charged R138.48.
Properties valued from R701 000 to R1.5 million are charged R182.74, and properties exceeding R1.5 million are charged R254.14.
“Furthermore, tariffs do not vary from area to area in the municipality,” he said.
The tariff was promulgated and approved by the Mayoral Committee annually, he added.
However, some residents accused the city council of exploiting wealthier residents. “It was absolutely ridiculous, unfair and prejudice to charge one person pay more than another based on their property value,” said resident Lana Gassner.
“We all receive the same service, good or bad as it may be, there is no difference… So why should people whose houses cost more, pay more?” she asked.
Meanwhile, The Joburg city council was not the only metropolitan to apply this tariff structure.
The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality also applied a tiered tariff structure for waste management and said that this was a common practice among many municipalities.
