26/09/2025
Mossel Bay HOA Rates Surge: Landowners raise alarm over biodiversity offset framework, as municipality cries ‘misinformation’
As draft documents reveal compulsory levies and loss of property rights, residents urge the public to comment before final adoption.
Concerns are mounting among Mossel Bay residents following revelations in municipal draft documents that outline the municipality’s new controversial Biodiversity Offset Framework. While the municipality stresses the framework is still in draft form, landowners warn that once adopted, these measures will carry legal and financial weight for generations.
While officials have dismissed criticism as “misinformation,” the municipality’s own reports reveal compulsory levies, rezoning restrictions, and servitudes that could significantly impact landowners in the future.
According to the draft framework, once landowners or future buyers initiate new developments, they will be required to join a compulsory Master Homeowners Association (MHOA). Membership entails perpetual payment of conservation levies estimated at R14,000–R16,500 per hectare annually. These payments would be managed by the MHA, which also gains authority over conservation servitudes registered in favor of the association.
“This isn’t about protecting plants and animals alone, this is about shifting long-term control of private property to an external body,” says Joe Emilio, independent Filmmaker and host of YouTube news commentary channel, ‘NewsFlash’. “The municipality may call it a draft, but the risks are in black and white within their own documents. Once you develop, your land and its value are tied to compulsory levies and restrictions that erode owner freedom.” Watch the full episode here.
Key points highlighted in the draft include:
Compulsory MHOA Membership: All new developments must join, with levies collected in perpetuity.
Annual Conservation Levies: Estimated costs amount to millions collectively, with individual landowners facing tens of thousands of rand each year. One example in the draft shows a property facing annual conservation levies of R149,000.
Rezoning and Servitudes: Portions of land may be rezoned for conservation, with rights permanently transferred to the MHOA. Portions of land may be permanently restricted for conservation use, with rights registered to the MHOA.
While current homeowners are not billed immediately, the framework binds future developments to these conditions, which could lower property attractiveness compared to other areas.
Some residents describe this as ‘expropriation by stealth,’ pointing to permanent servitudes and compulsory levies that erode long-term property rights
The municipality is currently seeking public input on the draft framework. Concerned landowners are urged to:
Submit comments via email (details available on stolenground.co.za).
Attend the public meeting on 16 September at 6:00 PM at Mossel Bay Town Hall.
“This is your land,” Emilio concluded. “Don’t let decisions be made without your voice. What looks like conservation today could become a costly burden tomorrow.”
Media Enquiries: Anneke Burns
+27 71 423 0079
[email protected]
About Joe Emilio
Joe Emilio is a South African comedian, content creator, and political commentator known for blending sharp wit with serious substance. With a background in stand-up and a passion for speaking truth to power, Joe uses his platform to dissect the country’s most pressing issues, always with a touch of humour and heart. He’s the creator of Newsflash, a satirical news show that unpacks South Africa’s chaos with clarity and comedy.
About Newsflash
Newsflash is a bold, independent YouTube show hosted by Joe Emilio, where politics meets punchlines. From government blunders to media hypocrisy, Newsflash delivers hard-hitting commentary, satire, and deep dives that expose what’s really going on in South Africa, without the fluff. The channel recently won first place in the Media category at the FreeSA Young Leaders Awards 2025, a testament to its fearless storytelling and growing impact.
