The days of waiting for a printed municipal bill to arrive in the post are coming to an end in Cape Town.
The city is going all-in on digital, urging residents to make the switch to email billing before the year wraps up.
The Countdown Is On: December 31 Is the Deadline
If you’re still getting your monthly bill via the South African Post Office, you’ve got until 31 December 2025 to go digital.
Cape Town residents are being asked to send in their municipal account number along with their email address to officially switch over to eBilling.
It’s a simple step, but one the City says is crucial for streamlining operations and helping the environment.
Already Half a Million On Board — But Thousands Still Behind
So far, over 475,000 Capetonians have made the leap to emailed accounts.
That’s a solid number, but it still leaves thousands clinging to traditional printed bills. City officials are encouraging holdouts to get on board sooner rather than later.
Why Make the Switch? Here’s What the City Says
According to Councillor Siseko Mbandezi, who handles the City’s finance portfolio, going digital brings several perks:
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Faster delivery – No more waiting for mail. Your bill shows up instantly in your inbox.
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Easier tracking – Digital records make it simpler to check your payment history.
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Official proof – Emailed bills are valid as proof of residence.
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Greener alternative – Less paper waste is better for the environment.
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Lower costs – Cutting down on printing and postage saves the City money.
“Skip the December rush,” said Mbandezi. “Switch to eBilling now and help build a cleaner, greener Cape Town.”
How to Make the Switch in Just Minutes
Signing up is quick and easy. All you need to do is send your account number and email address through one of these channels:
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SMS: 31223
It takes just a few minutes to complete and could save you time and headaches down the line.
What If You Don’t Have Email?
Not everyone has email access—and the City gets that.
If you’re not connected online, you can still receive printed bills.
Just call the City at 0860 103 089 or stop by your nearest Customer Interaction Centre for help.
City Sends Out Reminders to Nudge the Last Few
To make things easier, the City has started sending SMS reminders to residents who have contact details on file but haven’t yet signed up for eBilling. If you’ve gotten one, consider it your friendly nudge to get moving.
