Municipal Debt Specialist • Publications & Insights

Knowledge that informs.
Experience that matters.

Explore MDS insights on municipal clearance figures, Section 118 and the legal considerations surrounding South African property transfers. Our collection brings together practical guidance, specialist commentary and a documented history of important court proceedings.

Explore All Articles Our National Media Coverage

Selected reading

Start with the issues that matter.

These featured articles explore risks that are often overlooked when property transfers and municipal debt intersect. Select any article to read it in full.

Property transfers • Featured insight

Offer to Purchase: Municipal Debt & Clearance Risks

Why a standard clearance-certificate clause may not address every municipal debt exposure in a property sale.

Read the full article  ↗ Section 118 • Essential explanation

Section 118 Is Not a Discount.

Understand the distinction between the statutory clearance requirement and the settlement of outstanding municipal debt.

Read the full article  ↗ Clearance figures • In practice

When High Clearance Figures Create Pressure.

An examination of the risks of rushed decisions and misunderstandings about municipal clearance figures.

Read the full article  ↗

Our legal heritage • 2017

The Jordaan matter. A judgment reported across South Africa.

Explore the Constitutional Court history associated with MDS and Livanos, together with the television, radio, newspaper and online reporting preserved in our national media archive.

Watch & Explore Our National Media Archive ↗ Discover the Jordaan Case Story ↗

The complete publications library

Every article. A history worth exploring.

Browse our published articles, from recent guidance for property professionals to earlier legal developments and media coverage. The library below updates automatically when a new WordPress article is published.

DateTitle
2026/06/03Offer to Purchase Risks OTP: Municipal Debt & Clearance Trap2026-06-03 07:20:39
2026/04/23High Rates Clearance Figures – How Fear Is Being Exploited2026-04-23 20:23:33
2025/11/19Section 118 Is NOT a Discount, Write-Off, Reduction, Saving2025-11-19 11:55:14
2025/07/21Sheriff Auctions: The Hidden Dangers of Municipal Debt2025-07-21 13:35:40
2025/07/02South Africa’s Rates Clearance Laws: Origins to Section 1182025-07-02 09:47:58
2025/06/27Hidden Costs of Selling Property in South Africa2025-06-27 13:02:07
2024/09/28Rates Clearance Certificate: All You Need to Know2024-09-28 15:06:14
2024/09/18Why Top Agents Refer Sellers for Accurate Clearance Figures2024-09-18 15:30:24
2024/09/07Role of Conveyancers in Managing Municipal Clearance Figures2024-09-07 10:47:42
2024/08/31Impact of Delays in Rates Clearance on Property Transfers2024-08-31 10:59:35
2024/08/24Section 118 of the Local Government Municipal Systems Act Explained: Constitutional Court Judgments, Historical Municipal Debt and Property Transfers2024-08-24 10:33:50
2024/07/01Section 118 (1) (2) (3) Municipal Systems Act 32 of 20002024-07-01 13:56:39
2024/01/30Radio | Television | Newspapers | Constitutional Court Win Old Owners Historical Debt2024-01-30 15:51:14
2023/05/01Municipal Rates & Taxes Clearance Certificate & Figures2023-05-01 14:11:52
2018/12/20Deconstructing the Section 118 Jordaan Case: The Data, Legal Traps, and Strategic Design Behind a Landmark Victory 2018-12-20 05:43:35
2018/08/20Jordaan v City of Tshwane: A Structured Constitutional Challenge to Section 118(3) and Municipal Debt Enforcement2018-08-20 05:22:21
2018/02/16When a Property Investor Was Forced to Challenge High Clearance Figures — and Changed the Law2018-02-16 13:13:20
2017/08/05Municipality Held Accountable for Debt Mismanagement – BEELD Report2017-08-05 10:25:15
2017/07/29Beware of Hidden Municipal Debt – BEELD Highlights Critical Issue2017-07-29 10:21:10
2017/06/20Engineered Victory: How Livanos Dismantled Municipalities2017-06-20 15:05:59
2017/05/20Upcoming Cape Talk Chat: Constitutional Court Municipal Debt2017-05-20 09:04:14
2017/05/18How the Jordaan Case Changed Property Law in South Africa2017-05-18 14:17:56
2017/05/03Ekurhuleni: Phasing Out Tenants’ Accounts—What It Means2017-05-03 10:45:43
2017/03/27Landmark Legal Battle Over Historic Municipal Debts2017-03-27 15:47:32
2016/12/07PowerFM Highlights Appeal in Major Municipal Debt Case2016-12-07 08:23:23
2016/12/06702 Radio Takes on Ekurhuleni Mayor Over Municipal Debt2016-12-06 08:03:25
2016/11/07High Court Ruling: New Ventures’ Victory – Municipal Dispute2016-11-07 14:35:28
2016/06/27Ekurhuleni Historical Debt Ruling: Why Buyers and Sellers Still Need Municipal Debt Specialists Before Transfer2016-06-27 14:05:24
2016/06/01Tenant Triumphs Over Unlawful Municipal Disconnection2016-06-01 08:28:00
2016/02/16The Star Newspaper: PROPERTY DEBT SHOCK2016-02-16 08:03:56
2016/02/01Court Decision: New Property Owners May Face Inherited Debts2016-02-01 12:51:59
2015/04/27Major Win for Property Owners in Ekurhuleni – Stand 278 Case2015-04-27 12:56:12
2014/10/21City of Tshwane vs Mathabatha: Essential Judgment Update2014-10-21 13:21:20
2014/10/21Metro’s Defiance of Court: What Property Owners Should Know2014-10-21 08:42:33
2014/08/24#NOTMYDEBT: Carte Blanche Exposed Municipal Debt Practices2014-08-24 08:14:16
2014/04/11Uncovering Unfair Debt Practices by Municipalities2014-04-11 14:10:16