South Africa: Sold Your Joburg Home? Why Utility Bills May Still Arrive Months Later

What the report says

AllAfrica, republishing a Daily Maverick report by Naledi Mashishi, says former homeowners in Johannesburg may continue receiving municipal utility accounts months after selling a property and transferring ownership. The report focuses on residents who expected their relationship with the City of Johannesburg account to end once a sale was completed, but who still receive bills connected to the address they no longer own.

One example cited is journalist Ruan Jooste, a former Business Maverick staffer, who sold her Johannesburg property in March and relocated to Cape Town. According to the report, Jooste had closed her account and the property transfer had been completed, yet she continued getting utility bills meant for the new occupier. The situation became more complicated when the new tenant tried to open an account and was allegedly told the electricity meter was illegal and that a R14,000 amount was due, despite Jooste having received a clearance certificate before transfer.

Daily Maverick reports that Jooste has been forwarding the bills manually to the new tenant so they can be paid, even though she does not regard the charges as her responsibility. The article’s practical warning is that former owners should not simply pay bills for properties they have sold, but should take steps to resolve the municipal account properly.

The issue matters because municipal clearance and account closure are central to property transfers in South Africa, and unresolved billing can leave sellers, buyers and tenants uncertain about liability. Based on the available article text, the report highlights administrative problems around City of Johannesburg and City Power accounts, but does not provide the city’s detailed response or the full procedural guidance contained in the original Daily Maverick story.