City of Johannesburg Launches Pensioners' Relief Campaign With Property Rates Rebates

• The City of Johannesburg introduced a Pensioners Legacy and Relief Campaign to coincide with the International Day of Older Persons
• The City distributed roughly R329.8 million in property-rates rebates to over 38,000 pensioner beneficiaries in the 2025/26 financial year
• Qualifying senior citizens aged 70 and older could receive a full 100% property-rates rebate regardless of their income

The City of Johannesburg's Group Finance Department has rolled out a new initiative aimed at easing the financial burden on senior citizens. The Pensioners Legacy and Relief Campaign, launched to mark International Day of Older Persons, offers property-rates rebates and guides families through the often complex process of managing municipal accounts and deceased estates.

Figures released alongside the campaign reveal just how significant the programme has become. During the 2025/26 financial year, the City paid out approximately R329.8 million in property-rates rebates to 38,308 qualifying pensioners. Existing approved beneficiaries will not need to reapply; their rebates are automatically extended until the end of June 2027.

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Who qualifies and what they can receive

First-time applicants must be registered property owners who use the property as their primary residence. Eligibility is assessed against age, gross monthly household income, and the value of the property.

Residents between the ages of 60 and 69 with a gross monthly household income below R13,519 and a property valued at up to R1.5 million qualify for a full 100% rebate. Those in the same age bracket earning between R13,519 and R23,172 qualify for a 50% rebate on a property up to the same value. SASSA social grant recipients aged 60 to 69 also qualify for the 100% rebate. For those aged 70 and older, there is no income limit, and properties valued at up to R2 million qualify for a full rebate.

How to apply and what to bring

New applicants to the programme, those who recently turned 60, or those whose financial circumstances have changed must submit a completed application form. The gross monthly income must be written clearly on the form, as bank statements or SASSA documentation alone will not be accepted. Applicants also need a certified copy of their South African ID, with the certification stamp no older than three months. If the property has co-owners, full income declarations for all registered owners are required.

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The municipal account must either be up to date, covered by an active payment arrangement, or linked to a formally lodged billing dispute.

Help for families navigating deceased estates

The campaign also addresses the challenges families face when a registered property owner passes away. The City urges families to keep municipal payments current during estate settlement to prevent debt from building up or services from being cut off. Estates must be finalised through the Master of the High Court.

Families with questions about deceased estate municipal accounts can visit the City's Legal Department in person at Thuso House, 1st Floor, 61 Jorissen Street, Braamfontein.

Applications can be submitted by email to ratescomments@joburg.org.za or in person at any City of Johannesburg Customer Service Centre.

More on pensioners and grants in South Africa

• Briefly News recently reported on 169,000 SASSA grants that were suspended and the question one man is asking about how beneficiaries were meant to respond.
• Elderly protesters gathered outside a SASSA office in Durban with cardboard signs and a big demand for President Ramaphosa.
• A quiet cost could be shrinking what South African retirees receive from their overseas pensions, and experts say it adds up every year.

Source: Briefly News