Could pensioners be missing out on valuable rates relief? The City of Johannesburg is seeking to change that with the launch of its Pensioners Legacy and Relief Campaign.
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The initiative aims to help senior citizens access property-rates rebates while giving families guidance on managing municipal accounts when a property owner dies.
With a family home often representing decades of sacrifice, the City is urging residents to understand their rights, responsibilities and the steps needed to protect that legacy.
“The initiative brings together two important areas of support: practical information on property-rates rebates available to qualifying pensioners, and guidance for families on keeping municipal records up to date and managing municipal accounts when a property owner passes away,”
In a bid to reduce the administrative burden on older citizens, the City has automatically extended its property-rates rebates for existing approved pensioner beneficiaries until the end of June next year.
“This means pensioners whose rebates have already been approved do not need to re-apply to retain their benefits for the remainder of the current General Valuation Roll cycle, subject to the applicable policy requirements," the City’s group finance department noted in a statement.
“During the 2025/26 financial year, the City provided approximately R329.8m in property-rates rebates to 38,308 pensioner beneficiaries. The automatic extension will help ensure continuity of this important support while reducing unnecessary paperwork and visits to City offices for existing approved beneficiaries."
Rates relief explained
The City also provides various other forms of relief for pensioners. These can be applied as follows for qualifying pensioners aged 60 to 69:
- Gross monthly household income below R13,519: a 100% rates rebate on qualifying properties valued up to R1.5m.
- Gross monthly household income between R13,519 and R23,172: a 50% rates rebate on qualifying properties valued up to R1.5m.
- Recipients of a qualifying social grant may also qualify for 100% relief, subject to the applicable policy requirements.
- Meanwhile, qualifying pensioners aged 70 and older may receive a 100% rates rebate on properties valued up to R2m, regardless of monthly income, subject to the applicable policy requirements.
“Existing approved pensioner beneficiaries covered by the automatic extension do not need to submit new applications. However, residents who have recently turned 60, have newly become eligible, or have never previously applied must submit an application for consideration.
“Applicants must be the registered owners of the property and ordinarily reside at the property as their primary residence. The pensioner rebate applies to one qualifying property per applicant, in accordance with the City’s Rates Policy,” the statement explained.
New applicants are encouraged to avoid delays or rejections.
Applicants should ensure that:
- Gross monthly income is clearly stated on the application form. Supporting documents such as bank statements or South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) documentation should not replace the requirement to declare the income amount on the form. City officials cannot complete this declaration on behalf of an applicant.
- The application form is signed by the registered property owner.
- A certified copy of the applicant’s South African identity document is attached, with the certification not older than three months.
- Where a property is jointly owned, the required supporting income documentation and declarations for all relevant co-owners are provided.
- The municipal account complies with the applicable requirements relating to account status, payment arrangements or formally lodged billing disputes.
For assistance with applications, use the following official City channels:
- Email: Request or submit pensioner rebate application forms via ratescomments@joburg.org.za
- In person: Visit a City of Johannesburg Customer Service Centre (CSC) for general municipal-account assistance.
- Online: Pensioner rebate information and application forms are available on the City of Johannesburg website under the Property Rates and Rebates section.
- Deceased estates: For guidance on deceased estate matters, families can visit the Legal Department, 1st Floor at Thuso House, 61 Jorissen Street, Braamfontein.
Protecting a legacy
Director of Communications within the City’s group finance department, Kgamanyane Maphologela, noted that the campaign also focuses on assisting families in understanding what happens to property when an account owner passes.
“A family home often represents decades of sacrifice and is an important part of the legacy parents leave to their children. But when a property owner passes away, uncertainty about the administrative and legal processes can create serious complications for families.
“The deceased estate must be administered through the appropriate legal process involving the Master of the High Court. The City does not determine inheritance or ownership, but our responsibility is to help families understand how the municipal account should be managed while the estate process is being finalised,” Maphologela said.
Families are encouraged to ensure that municipal bills are kept up to date in the event of a loved one passing to prevent mounting debt and complications when the property is transferred.
“Our message to senior citizens is simple: you have contributed to Johannesburg for many years, and we want to make it easier for you to access the municipal relief available to you.
“At the same time, we encourage families to have the necessary conversations and put their property affairs in order so that the family home remains an asset rather than becoming an administrative burden for the next generation,” Maphologela said
