EThekwini Municipality’s Revenue Management Directorate is set to introduce a new Revenue Clearance System (RCS) in the new financial year, aimed at modernising and streamlining the rates clearance process.
The announcement was made during the Municipality’s annual engagement with the conveyancing fraternity held today, 9 June, at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
The engagement serves as a platform to strengthen partnerships, provide updates, and receive feedback on the Rates Clearance Certificate (RCC) process.
The new system is expected to significantly improve service delivery by enhancing the quality of information submitted during applications, enabling direct payment of application fees to the Municipality, reducing delays, streamlining assessment payments, automating the issuance of RCC, and improving overall operational efficiency.
In addition, the RCS will provide improved communication channels between applicants and the Municipality, allowing users to track applications in real time, monitor progress, and receive status notifications.
EThekwini Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba said the rates clearance process is regarded as a strategic function that plays a critical role in facilitating property transactions and supporting economic activity.
“As a Municipality, we are committed to continuously improving and accelerating the rates clearance process to better serve residents and the property sector. Through our ongoing engagement with conveyancers, we have been able to identify challenges and implement practical solutions,” said Mayor Xaba.
The Mayor noted that the engagement sessions, introduced in 2023, have yielded positive results, including a significant reduction in turnaround times for rates clearance applications.
“We have reduced turnaround times from between 33 and 50 days to between 20 and 45 days, demonstrating the value of collaboration and continuous process improvement,” he added.
The Municipality acknowledged that several challenges continue to affect the RCC process, including capacity constraints, labour-related issues, the unavailability of new water and electricity meters, reliance on manual systems, and technical interruptions.
Speaking on behalf of the eThekwini Conveyancing Fraternity, Sifiso Msomi welcomed the engagement and commended the Municipality’s commitment to transparency and collaboration.
“We appreciate the opportunity to engage directly with the City and the openness shown regarding the challenges being experienced. These engagements create a platform for finding solutions and improving service delivery for all stakeholders,” said Msomi.
The Municipality remains committed to working closely with the conveyancing sector to improve efficiencies, strengthen stakeholder relations, and enhance the overall customer experience in the rates clearance process.
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