Bangladesh Heights is confronting the imminent risk of water disconnection after receiving a final demand from the City of Tshwane, to settle R6.5 million by 26 February 2026 or risk the services being cut.
Heights.
The current Board of Trustees believes it is important to be transparent with residents and the public: this debt is historical and was accumulated over a number of years prior to the current Board’s term. When the present Board took office in 2025, arrears exceeded R14 million. Since then, through tighter financial controls, improved collection efforts, financial donations, sponsorships and difficult but necessary decisions, the Board has reduced the debt significantly. The financial progress made within one year reflects a serious commitment to correcting legacy issues.
Heights.
The current Board is not focused on blame, but on solutions. Multiple avenues are and have been explored, and the Trustees are working with various stakeholders and advisors to stabilise the account and prevent disconnection.
Historically
The Body Corporate previously instituted legal proceedings against the City in an attempt to challenge aspects of the debt and billing position; however, the outcome was not favourable to the scheme.
The legal framework governing sectional title schemes significantly limits available remedies in such disputes. Under Municipal billing structures, a sectional title scheme is treated as a single juristic entity, with all services billed collectively to the Body Corporate rather than to individual unit owners. Consequently, municipal debt attaches to the scheme as a whole, not to specific owners or time periods. This means the entire Body Corporate remains liable for historical arrears, regardless of when the debt arose or whether current owners were involved at the time. Even where arrears stem from prior governance failures or decisions of previous trustees, the legal obligation rests with the scheme itself, placing current trustees and owners in the difficult position of addressing liabilities that predate their involvement.
In light of the court outcome the current Board has adopted a pragmatic approach and focused on:
- Stabilising current accounts
- Ongoing compliance and accurate billing
- Implemented strict financial controls
- Sought structured repayment or negotiated solutions
- Although we agreed to a payment plan, we could not pay the entire amount and defaulted in January. However, we made a partial payment.
- Attempted to engage constructively with the City of Tshwane
- Sent emails to the Mayor (Nasiphi Moya), the MMC for Finance / Deputy Executive Mayor (Eugene Modise) and the City Manager on three occasions: 21 January 2026, 23 January 2026 and 12 February 2026.
We have engaged with Councilor Patel on numerous occasions to facilitate a meeting for the Body Corp to meet with the MMC Finance, who is also the Deputy Executive Mayor – this has not come to pass.
The current position places Bangladesh Heights at risk of complete water disconnection, with severe consequences for all residents.
Bangladesh Heights is home to many vulnerable residents. We have in excess of 100 pensioners that are occupying units, many of whom rely solely on SASSA grants. The special levies that were introduced to address the arrears have already placed strain on households under financial pressure and this is not sustainable any longer. A disconnection would trigger a severe humanitarian crisis for hundreds of residents.
The loss of access to water would not only endanger public health but would undermine basic human dignity and fundamental rights.
Access to water is essential for sanitation, hygiene, cooking, and daily living; without it, vulnerable residents, including children, the elderly, and those with medical conditions, would face immediate and serious risk. Such a situation would amount to a grave infringement on the basic human right to water and the inherent dignity of those affected.
The current Board emphasises that it is taking every reasonable step within its mandate to address a complex and inherited situation responsibly. The Trustees remain committed to transparency, financial discipline, and protecting the wellbeing of all residents.
The leadership of Bangladesh Heights now calls on the entire community to unite and assist in every way possible – through cooperation, constructive engagement, and shared
responsibility – as collective effort will be essential to securing a sustainable and lasting
solution.
As a short-term measure, voluntary donations and sponsorships toward reducing the outstanding balance would provide meaningful relief and assist in stabilising the immediate financial position while longer-term solutions are being implemented.
Residents and supporters who wish to assist or
engage constructively may contact:
Mustafa Hasware – Chairman – 064 998 3108
Nazeem Harris – Trustee – 078 110 7692
Irshaad Laher – Trustee – 079 939 1878
Imraan Majothi – Trustee – 083 626 2997
Bangladesh Heights has long been a cornerstone of our lives – a place where families have built homes, friendships have formed, and lasting memories have been created. It represents more than a residential complex; it is a community with shared history and shared values. Let us work together to preserve the dignity, stability and future of our community, ensuring that Bangladesh Heights remains a place we are proud to call home.