Who and what is AfriForum?

AfriForum is an Afrikaans civil rights organisation that protects the rights of minority groups at national as well as provincial level, and anyone who can identify with AfriForum’s principles and objectives may join the organisation. AfriForum’s community plan focuses on mobilising communities to thus take control of their own streets and neighbourhoods again. AfriForum ensures that your constitutional and civil rights are recognised and protected at national level.

Wie en wat is AfriForum?

AfriForum is ’n Afrikaanse burgerregteorganisasie wat die regte van minderheidsgroepe op sowel nasionale as provinsiale vlak beskerm, en enigiemand wat met AfriForum se beginsels en doelstellings kan identifiseer, mag by die organisasie aansluit. AfriForum se gemeenskapsplan fokus daarop om gemeenskappe te mobiliseer om só weer beheer terug te neem oor hul eie strate en woonbuurtes. AfriForum verseker dat jou grondwetlike én burgerregte op nasionale vlak erken en beskerm word.

City of Tshwane must comply with judgment on cleansing levy

Soundbite: Arno Roodt (English)

Soundbite: Arno Roodt (Afrikaans)

AfriForum expresses its disapproval of the fact that the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality continues to include the city cleaning levy on the bills of residents of this Metro. This is despite two consecutive defeats in the Pretoria High Court.

The Pretoria High Court declared this levy unlawful, irrational, and unconstitutional on 31 July this year and ordered the Metro to remove the levy from all accounts and credit residents for it in the next cycle. The Tshwane Metro’s application for leave to appeal was dismissed with costs on 25 August this year, with the court concluding that there is no reasonable prospect of success in challenging the judgment in this case.

Despite these judgements, on its latest accounts dated 1 September 2025, the Metro not only continued to bill the levy, but also reinstated amounts that had already been credited in terms of the July court order.

According to AfriForum, the Metro is disregarding a binding court order. The organisation also expressed concern about the Metro’s Chief Financial Officer, Gareth Mnisi’s, statements that the levy remains in place as the Metro has appealed to the Supreme Court of Appeal. However, no court documents have been served on AfriForum’s legal team in relation to an appeal, as such the original court orders remain fully enforceable.

In a letter to City Manager Johann Mettler and Executive Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya on 5 September, AfriForum strongly condemned the Metro’s conduct and demanded that the Metro immediately cease billing the levy, credit all affected residents and provide written confirmation of compliance no later than Friday, 12 September 2025.

“AfriForum’s position is clear,” says Arno Roodt, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for Greater Pretoria South. “The courts have already ruled on this matter. The Metro has a legal duty to comply. If the Metro fails to act by the deadline, AfriForum will return to court to enforce compliance, including bringing contempt of court proceedings and seeking personal cost orders against officials responsible.”

AfriForum emphasises that this situation highlights why it is crucial for residents to not lose hope in “David v Goliath” fights against the state – but to join and support organised community organisations like AfriForum who can fight on their behalf.

Residents are encouraged to email help@afriforum.co.za in order to be assisted with the lodging of a dispute with the City of Tshwane in order to ensure that their accounts are refunded and vistit www.wordlid.co.za to become a member of AfriForum.