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Displaying the 15 latest comments.
Submitted | first-name | support | concern | top-concern | message |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2026-09-03 14:51:25 +02:00 | Lilly | No I do not | All of the above | Regulatory Overreach | |
2026-08-24 13:49:01 +02:00 | Peter | No I do not | All of the above | Regulatory Overreach | I am particularly concerned about the Minister involved based on her past record. I think that this is very relevant given that many of our visitors are from overseas. I cannot see that this official is the right person to handle this very important position. The short term rental platform is a very important factor of our tourism sector and of other countries. Decisions of this importance and nature need to be in the hands of a competent and reasonable person with understanding and not someone carrying considerable negative baggage |
2026-08-19 11:39:49 +02:00 | Nancy | No I do not | All of the above | Economic Impact | |
2026-08-18 23:37:40 +02:00 | Johanna | No I do not | All of the above | Regulatory Overreach | |
2026-08-18 18:23:40 +02:00 | Bridget | No I do not | Economic Impact | Renting out my home for short term rental is my only means of generating income that assists with paying basic costs and home maintenance. I generate no other income. My home is not available for long term rental as I live in my home the rest of the time. | |
2026-08-18 12:22:08 +02:00 | Albert | No I do not | All of the above | Economic Impact | I am in the Short Term Rental (STR) business for the past 17 years and the income generated does not closely justify the hike in proposed rates. The result will be a lack of investment with STR in mind and the withdrawal of properties from the market which are used for STR at the moment. This will have a huge impact on job creation and tourism in general. I have 17 years of statistics to prove the above. |
2026-08-17 23:55:21 +02:00 | Mariette | No I do not | Regulatory Overreach | ||
2026-08-17 20:44:58 +02:00 | Hans | No I do not | All of the above | Economic Impact | |
2026-08-17 11:07:04 +02:00 | Carmen | No I do not | All of the above | Administrative Burden | It absurd that you want to charge extra , we already paid for our house and pay taxes and rates Its our own choice what we want to do with the property and how we make money out of it No one who tents out their house per month has to pay extra, so why do we need to Its just a way for the government to make more money out of something they are already making money of |
2026-08-16 16:00:22 +02:00 | Tilla | No I do not | Economic Impact | ||
2026-08-16 15:33:49 +02:00 | Charles | No I do not | All of the above | Regulatory Overreach | |
2026-08-16 12:54:06 +02:00 | Alta | No I do not | All of the above | Regulatory Overreach | |
2026-08-16 12:45:21 +02:00 | Chris | No I do not | All of the above | Regulatory Overreach | Privacy Forcing guests to submit to government-tracked data sharing is a violation of privacy that will drive tourists to other destinations. So unfair: Many South Africans rely on income to pay their mortgages and survive the cost-of-living crisis; over-regulation kills this “side-hustle”. Rights: A homeowner should have the right to use their private property as they see fit without government-mandated caps on occupancy. Administrative The requirements are too “corporate” for a simple room-sharing arrangement and will discourage new entrants. Privacy Forcing platforms to share personal data with the state is an overreach that risks the security of both hosts and guests. |
2026-08-16 11:11:43 +02:00 | Jannie | No I do not | All of the above | Economic Impact | We Cannot Allow This to Become the End of Affordable Cape Town Hospitality As a frequent traveller and a concerned citizen, I am deeply concerned about the proposed changes to the regulation and municipal rating of short-term rental properties in Cape Town. While I fully support proper registration, accountability, consumer protection and measures to prevent fraudulent accommodation listings, the proposed approach appears disproportionate and risks punishing legitimate small-scale property owners and ordinary South Africans who use short-term rentals to supplement their income. The proposed 50% availability threshold is particularly concerning. Measuring the number of nights that a property is available for booking, rather than the nights it is actually occupied and generating income, is fundamentally unfair. A property can remain empty for weeks while its calendar is open, yet the owner could still face a dramatic increase in municipal property rates. This is not simply a cost to property owners. These costs will ultimately be transferred to the consumer. If owners are suddenly confronted with substantially higher property rates and compliance costs, they will have little choice but to increase their nightly rates. The result will be more expensive holidays, fewer affordable self-catering options and less choice for ordinary families who want to travel within South Africa. Cape Town should be encouraging domestic tourism—not making it increasingly unaffordable. I am also concerned about the impact on the broader hospitality economy. Thousands of small property owners, cleaners, maintenance workers, property managers, photographers, laundry services, restaurants, transport providers and other businesses benefit directly or indirectly from the short-term rental market. If small-scale hosts are forced to withdraw from the market because the economics no longer make sense, the consequences could include job losses, reduced tourism spending and further pressure on an already struggling economy. There is also a legitimate concern that policies of this nature could increasingly make Cape Town accessible primarily to international tourists and wealthier travellers, while ordinary South African families are priced out of one of the country's most popular holiday destinations. That cannot be the intention of responsible municipal governance. We should not create a system where an ordinary South African who wants to spend a week in Cape Town supporting a local Airbnb or self-catering establishment is effectively penalised through higher accommodation costs. Yes, there must be regulation. Yes, there must be registration. Yes, fraudulent listings must be eliminated. Yes, consumers must be protected. But regulation must be fair, proportionate and based on actual economic activity—not merely on an open calendar. The City should urgently reconsider the proposed 50% availability test and engage meaningfully with property owners, the hospitality sector, tourism organisations and consumers before implementing measures that could have unintended consequences. Cape Town's tourism industry is an important economic asset. We should be growing it, protecting jobs and making the city accessible to South Africans—not introducing policies that drive up costs and shrink the market. We cannot allow ordinary holidaymakers to carry the burden of policies that may ultimately benefit municipal revenue at the expense of local tourism. Cape Town belongs to all South Africans. Our families deserve affordable holidays. Our small businesses deserve a fair opportunity to operate. Our hospitality workers deserve job security. We cannot allow this to become another unnecessary cost transfer to ordinary citizens. We must speak out, demand meaningful consultation and ensure that regulation does not kill the very hospitality market it is supposed to protect. WE CANNOT ALLOW THI |
2026-08-16 10:38:08 +02:00 | Ruggero | No I do not | All of the above | Economic Impact |
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- Fair Competition: It levels the playing field between Airbnbs and traditional hotels/B&Bs that pay commercial rates and tourism levies
- Housing Availability: Regulating STRs prevents long-term rental stock from being depleted, making housing more affordable for locals.
- Safety & Quality: It ensures a minimum standard of safety (smoke detectors, insurance) for international and local tourists. Guests deserve the same safety and insurance protections in an Airbnb as they get in a 5-star hotel.
- Community Harmony: It gives residents and Body Corporates a framework to manage noise, parking, and security issues caused by transient guests.
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- Privacy: Forcing guests to submit to government-tracked data sharing is a violation of privacy that will drive tourists to other destinations.
- Livelihood Threat: Many South Africans rely on STR income to pay their mortgages and survive the cost-of-living crisis; over-regulation kills this “side-hustle”.
- Property Rights: A homeowner should have the right to use their private property as they see fit without government-mandated caps on occupancy.
- Administrative Overkill: The requirements are too “corporate” for a simple room-sharing arrangement and will discourage new entrants.
- Privacy Risk: Forcing platforms to share personal data with the state is an overreach that risks the security of both hosts and guests.
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