The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Johannesburg demands an end to the unreasonable sewage billing of apartments, townhouses, complexes, and retirement units, which pay a minimum sewerage charge that is almost double that of single homes on similar-sized properties.

This is not based on actual water use or sewage output. It is a blanket tariff that:

• Penalises people who have formal, legal connections to the sewer system;
• Contradicts the City’s plans for affordable, high-density housing; and
• Pushes costs onto residents who already comply with municipal rules.

The DA calls on all residents of greater Johannesburg living in multi-dwelling properties to support a new petition demanding a fair review and reduction of sewerage charges. This petition was originally launched in Ward 106 and is now open to all Johannesburg residents, empowering the Democratic Alliance to challenge these unfair charges on behalf of residents in Council.

The petition is supported by Section 74(2) and (3) of the Municipal Systems Act, Section 229 of the Constitution, the Municipal Finance Management Act, and the City of Johannesburg Tariff Policy and Water Services By-laws, all of which require tariffs to be fair, cost-based, transparent, and non-discriminatory.

We call on the City of Johannesburg to:

1. Reduce the minimum sewerage charge for multi-dwelling units to match single-residential charges for similar properties.
2. Review the sewerage tariff structure in public, with full resident consultation.

The deadline to sign is 30 September 2025.

Sign here: https://forms.gle/t6URYMUkepMhSa7j-