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Displaying the 5 latest comments.
Submitted | first-name | support | concern | top-concern | message |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2026-08-11 14:41:24 +02:00 | Suki | Not fully | Threat to Supplemental Household Income & Rising Cost of Living | ||
2026-08-11 14:25:45 +02:00 | Darren | No I do not | Threat to Supplemental Household Income & Rising Cost of Living | ||
2026-08-11 13:55:57 +02:00 | Paul | No I do not | Other | Each of the listed objections is valid in its own right. The time has, however, come to reign in this DA government's free-for-all administrative overreach and excessive taxing of rate payers, while actively working to destroy Cape Town as a residential and commercial safe haven. The DA, nor any other political party must be allowed to run rough-shot over the rate paying residents of Cape Town. | |
2026-08-11 13:34:34 +02:00 | Nkateko | No I do not | All of the above | Consumer Impact: Higher Nightly Accommodation Rates & Reduced Choice | |
2026-08-11 13:14:38 +02:00 | Elke | No I do not | Threat to Supplemental Household Income & Rising Cost of Living | I’m so sick and tired of being taxed, because this is a tax. Sick of regulations just opening more avenues for misuse. Fraud and corruption |
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- Level Playing Field:
Traditional hotels, B&Bs, and registered guesthouses pay commercial rates and utility tariffs. Dedicated full-time Airbnbs operating as commercial businesses should contribute equal municipal rates. - Infrastructure Contribution:
High-density tourist rentals place heavier loads on municipal roads, water, waste, and security infrastructure in tourist hubs. Commercial rates ensure fair municipal cost recovery. - Consumer Protection:
A verified municipal registry helps eliminate online rental scams and fake listings, giving holidaymakers confidence in legitimate accommodation.
- Level Playing Field:
“Mandatory municipal registration protects tourists from fake listings and accommodation scams. Displaying an official City registration number guarantees the property is legitimate and traceable.”
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- Flawed “Availability” Test:
Taxing hosts based on open calendar days rather than actual income penalises owners whose properties sit empty off-peak. An empty flat listed online earns zero revenue yet gets hit with a commercial tax penalty. - Punishing Household Survival:
Middle-class families, retirees, and single-property owners rely on seasonal holiday letting to cover skyrocketing bond rates, electricity tariffs, and living costs. - Inflated Prices for Guests & Tourists:
Reclassifying rentals onto commercial rates increases operational costs by up to 135%. Hosts will pass these costs onto guests, making Cape Town less affordable for domestic South African families. - Draconian Sanctions & POPIA Risks:
Threatening property owners and tech platforms with 6 months in prison over administrative registration numbers is excessive. Automated data-sharing between global platforms and municipal databases raises personal privacy concerns under POPIA.
- Flawed “Availability” Test:
“Slapping commercial property rates on holiday lets will simply result in higher prices at checkout. Domestic South African families looking for affordable beach holidays will be priced out, while small local businesses, restaurants, and transport operators will suffer if tourist spending decreases.”