FAQ’s

(1) The account holder must pay all amounts due to Council as reflected in the municipal account, and the onus is on the account holder to verify the accuracy of such account.

(2) An account holder must pay for metered services, the assessment rates, other municipal charges, levies, fees, fines, interest, taxes or any other liability or obligation from the date of origin of such municipal charges until the written termination of the services.

(3) An account holder -

(a) has one account number and will be rendered one account, on which the due date for settlement of the total amount owing is reflected; and

(b) will be rendered an account monthly in cycles of approximately thirty days;

(4) Payment must be received on or before the due date at close of business on the due date.

(5) Payment made via any of the service providers appointed by Council to receive payments on its behalf, should be made at least four working days before the due date to enable the payment to be processed, and interest will accrue should Council receive payment after the due date.

(6) Where the account holder effects payment of an account via a service provider four working days or more before the due date and such service provider fails to furnish Council with the relevant payment details, such service provider may be held liable for all charges incurred by Council to recover an arrear amount erroneously reflected on the account of the account holder, as well as for interest charges.

(7) Council may estimate the quantity of metered services supplied in respect of a period or periods within the interval between actual successive readings of the meters, and may render an account to an account holder for the quantity of metered services so estimated.

(8) If an account holder is dissatisfied with an account rendered for metered services supplied by Council, such account holder may, prior to the due date stipulated therein, object in writing to the account, setting out reasons for his/her dissatisfaction.

(9) Should any dispute arise as to the amount owing by an account holder, and subject to the provisions of Section 102 of the Act, the account holder must notwithstanding such dispute proceed to make regular payments by the due date, based on the calculation of the average municipal account for the preceding three months prior to the arising of the dispute and taking into account interest as well as the annual amendments of tariffs of Council.

(10) An error or omission in any account or failure to render an account will not relieve the account holder of the obligation to pay by the due date

(11) If an account holder uses water or electricity for a category of use other than that for which it is supplied by Council and is in consequence not charged for water or electricity so used, or is charged for the water or electricity at a rate lower than that at which the account holder should be charged, the account holder will be held liable for the amount due to Council in accordance with the prescribed charges in respect of -

(a) the quantity of water or electricity which, in the opinion of the relevant Directorate Manager, the account holder has used and for which the account holder has not been charged; or

(b) the difference between the cost of the water or electricity used by the account holder at the rate at which the account holder has been charged and the cost of the water or electricity at the rate at which the account holder should have been charged.

(12) An account holder will not be entitled to a reduction of the amount payable for metered services that are lost due to a default in the meter, save in terms of the Provisions of Clause 17(8)(c).

(13) Council may -

(a) consolidate any separate accounts of an account holder liable for payment to the Municipality; and

(b) credit any payment by an account holder against any debt of that account holder.

Interest levied on an account can be reversed only if there was an error on the side of the NMBM. Payments made at an agency (bank, post office or via easypay) must be made at least four (4) days before the due date indicated on the statement.

For more information- please click on this link

You will be sent a monthly statement which stipulates all charges. The due date for payment is clearly indicated on the statement.

• Water and electricity charges are based on actual consumption. In the case of debit meters, consumption is determined by readings taken from the meters.
• Charges for refuse removal depend on the usage of a property. Businesses, such as restaurants and supermarkets, are charged a higher fee than domestic consumers, because of the nature and volume of the refuse to be collected.
• Sewerage charges are determined by the property water consumption, with basic minimum calculated on 11 kl of water and a maximum of 50 kl for domestic customers.
• Trade effluent charges are charged in respect of all businesses.
• Property rates are determined by the market value and usage of the property.

Property owners are responsible for the payment of all municipal services rendered on the property- i.e. Water, sewerage, electricity and property rates. 

Credit control action will be taken against the owner of all accounts in arrears, even if the property is let to a tenant.

NMBM can assist in the following ways:

• Arrangements to re-pay the arrears in installments.
• ATTP Subsidy: If the joint gross income of ALL your household occupants does not exceed the ATTP criteria of two (2) state pensions, then you can apply for a subsidy in terms of the Assistance to the Poor (ATTP) Scheme.
• Property rates rebates: Pensioners and NGO's can apply

Click here for the various types of assistance offered

The Customer Care and Revenue Management by-laws regulate the following issues:-

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section

1. Definitions
2. Scope of By-laws

IMPLEMENTATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF BY-LAWS, AND DELEGATIONS

3. Municipal Manager as responsible officer
4. Delegations

APPLICATION FOR SUPPLY OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES, SERVICE AGREEMENTS, CREDIT SCREENING, DEPOSITS, BILLING, PAYMENT FOR SERVICES SUPPLIED, AND TERMINATION OF SERVICE AGREEMENTS

5. Application for supply of municipal services and service agreements
6. Credit screening
7. Deposits
8. Billing and payment
9. Termination of service agreements

ASSESSMENT RATES

10. Amount due for assessment rates
11. Claim on rental for assessment rates in arrears
12. Liability of directors and members for assessment rates

NON-PAYMENT OF MUNICIPAL ACCOUNTS

13. Arrangement for payments
14. Interest on overdue municipal accounts
15. Debt collection mechanisms

METERING EQUIPMENT AND METERING OF SERVICES

16. General provisions
17. Metering equipment and measuring of consumption
18. Resale of water or electricity
19. Assistance to the poor

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

20. Council's powers to restrict or disconnect supply of services
21. Tampering, unauthorised connections and reconnections, and improper use
22. Clearance certificate
23. Tenders and grants-in-aid
24. Power of entry and inspection
25. Relaxation, waiver and differentiation of customers
26. Power of Council to recover costs
27. Prima facie evidence
28. Authentication and service of orders, notices and other documents
29. Abandonment of bad debts, and full and final settlement of an account
30. Right of appeal
31. Offences
32. Transitional provision
33. Saving provision

To register a pre-paid meter number is quick and easy - forward your pre-paid electricity meter or card number, together with your municipal account number to the Customer Care Section for linking, by using any of the following methods:

• Telephone the Customer Care Help-line on tel: 041-506 5555
• Email: customercare@mandelametro.gov.za
• Fax: 041 506 1304
• At any of the 11 walk-in Customer Care Centres

Registered Assistance to the Poor - ATTP (indigent) consumers receive 8 kl of water and 75 kWh of electricity free each month. The sewerage charge, calculated on a minimum of 11kl of water, will be written off, as well as the rates charged for the month.
 Click here for more information / application and who qualifies for ATTP.

The MPRA Section 50 (6) states:

"The lodging of an objection does not defer liability for payment of rates beyond the date determined for payment".

Therefore the account must still be paid until the objection process has been finalised.

The MPRA Section 55 (2) states :

"If an adjustment in the valuation of a property affects the amount due for rates payable on that property, the municipal manager must :

(a) calculate -

(i) the amount actually paid on the property since the effective date; and

(ii) the amount payable in terms of the adjustment on the property since the effective date ; and

(b) recover from, or repay to, the person liable for the payment of the rate the difference determined in terms of paragraph (a) plus interest at a prescribed rates.

Legislation allows you to object to any entry or omission from the General Valuation Roll but not the roll in total. A property owner can also not object to the rates that you are paying or are due to pay; The Valuation Services directorate does not determine rates. We are responsible for the determination of property values, which are used as the City's rates base by the Rates & Taxes directorate to calculate your rates.

A General Valuation Roll (GV) is a legal document that consists of property information of all rateable properties within the boundaries of a municipality. It is produced according to The Municipal Property Rates Act 6 of 2004 (MPRA).

The effective date of valuation refers to the implementation of the General Valuation Roll. This is usually coincides with the date of the new financial year of the municipality. It means that a person may be levied rates according to the new general valuation roll from the effective date.

The General Valuation Roll assigns a value to all properties in a municipality with the objective of generating rates on an equitable basis.

Rates are calculated by charging a percentage of the valuation of your property as an annual fee. The higher the value of your property, the higher your rates will be. The value of the property is determined by valuers and the resulting value is multiplied by a factor (eg 2.4%), which in turn results in the amount of rates charged. These funds are then used by the Municipality to maintain NMBM infrastructure (such as roads and streetlights).

It is important to remember that the Municipality has to fund most projects and maintenance work in its area itself. Road maintenance, stormwater drainage systems, electricity consumed by street lighting and many other services that directly or indirectly benefit NMBM residents have to be financed. The income from rates charges finances these and other community services.

• The property must be categorised as residential
• You must be the owner of the property on 1 July of the year for which the rebate is being applied
• You must be a pensioner and at least 60 years old
• The joint income of all occupants residing on the relevant property may not exceed an amount prescribed by Council on an annual basis.

Contact the Call Centre on (041) 506 5555 or contact any of the Customer Care Satellite Offices and establish the full balance owing as well as the re-connection fee. Make these payments and take the receipt to the Customer Care enquiries section where a staff member will arrange for the re-connection of your services.

You can apply for a rates rebate should you qualify for such a rebate. There are various types of rates rebates.

• Pensioners/Disabled Rates Rebates
• Rates Exemption for Public Benefit Organisations and Not-for-Gain Institutions
• Sporting Body Rates Rebate
• Public Benefit Organisations – Education Purposes Rates Rebate

Annual property rates are payable in full on or before the end of September each year.

Property rates are charged to the accounts of property owners on 1 July each year. If the property owner wishes to pay it monthly, the first instalment would be due and payable in August. The date in August depends on the due date of the services (water and/or electricity) linked to the relevant property.

• The annual increase takes effect on the first of July of each year, as this Municipality’s financial year is from 01 July until 30 June the following year
• When a supplementary valuation is done
• Every four years, when the entire Metro gets revalued in terms of the Property Rates Act

We understand the frustration, especially when we see billions in unauthorised, irregular or wasteful expenditure and a steady decline in service delivery.

However, the Ratepayers Association cannot lawfully promote or organise a rates boycott. In terms of the Municipal Finance Management Act and case law, any organised rates boycott exposes residents to:

• Interest, penalties and legal enforcement
• Service disconnections
• Debt judgments against individuals
• Sale in execution of property in extreme cases

More importantly, a boycott actually weakens our legal standing. If we withhold payment, the Municipality can argue in court that residents are in breach, which removes the moral and legal high ground for challenging mismanagement.

Our strategy is the opposite:

• we demand accountability because residents are paying
• we use the Auditor-General’s findings, Municipal Systems Act, and MFMA to enforce transparency
• we challenge irregular, wasteful and non-budgeted expenditure through lawful channels
• we keep residents protected

A rates boycott may feel emotionally justified, but it gives the Municipality an easy defence: “People aren’t paying, therefore services are failing.” We are not giving them that escape route.

The Association supports lawful pressure and accountability, including:

• Public access to budget and expenditure reports
• Demanding forensic investigation into non-budgeted spending
• Forcing Council to recover irregular expenditure
• Legal action where possible against officials and accounting officers
• Supporting ratepayers to dispute incorrect billing individually

Our message is simple: We are paying — therefore we have the right to demand answers.

2023/24 Rates Rebate - Pensioners and Disabled - Application form Updated: 4-10-2023

Adopted Property Rates Policy 2023 - 2024

Only applications received from the following categories of organisations serving the community in the Metropolitan area will be considered:- 1. Sporting bodies (excluding applications in lieu of municipal general rates). 2. Registered benevolent, welfare or charitable institutions. 3. Art and culture - libraries, museums, art galleries, agricultural societies, art and culture groups. 4. Educational institutions (excluding primary and secondary schools). 5. Local economic development. 6. Environment. 7. Other.

CLICK HERE to DOWNLOAD

The functions of the Act are as follows: To regulate the power of a municipality to impose rates on property; to exclude certain properties from rating in the national interest; to make provision for municipalities to implement a transparent and fair system of exemptions, reductions and rebates through their rating policies; to make provision for fair and equitable valuation methods of properties; to make provision for an objections and appeals process; to amend the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, 2000, so as to make further provision for the serving of documents by municipalities; to amend or repeal certain legislation; and to provide for matters connected therewith.

Download the Municipal Property Rates Act no6 of 2004

Download the Property Rates By-Law

Download the Rates Rebate - Public Benefit Organisation Application Form

Public Benefit organisation Property is property owned by public benefit organisations and used for any specified public benefit activity listed in item 1 (welfare and humanitarian), item 2 (health care), item 4 (education and development) of part 1 of the Ninth Schedule to the Income Tax Act; and social housing.

Download the Rates Rebate Application Form - Sporting Body

To qualify for a sporting body rebate the following conditions must be complied with: a) The property owned by the organisation must be used soley for sporting purposes, whether for gain or not. b) The organisation audited financial statements must accompany the application.