PROPERTY BUYERS BEWARE! RATES CLEARANCE CERTIFICATES ARE A COLD COMFORT

The Supreme Court of Appeal recently held, in City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality v Thomas Mathabathe and Nedbank Limited, in relation to a section 118(1) clearance certificate issued in terms of the Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000, that all amounts due for municipal debts due for unpaid municipal debts are secured by the property.