Collect Body Corporate Levies via WhatsApp

Body corporates in South Africa have a legal duty to collect levies from unit owners, but the actual collection process is often a mess of bank transfers, spreadsheets, and follow-up WhatsApp messages. wabill Collect automates levy collection by sending invoices and payment links directly to unit owners on WhatsApp.

The legal obligation to collect levies

Under the Sectional Titles Schemes Management Act 8 of 2011 (STSMA), Section 3(1)(a), the body corporate has a duty to establish and maintain a fund for administrative expenses and to collect contributions (levies) from owners. Section 37 of the STSMA gives the body corporate the power to raise special levies for expenses not covered by the regular budget.

The Community Schemes Ombud Service Act 9 of 2011 (CSOSA) provides dispute resolution when owners fail to pay levies. Trustees need clear, documented payment records to pursue arrears through the CSOS or the courts. Despite this legal framework, many body corporates, especially smaller schemes, still track levy payments manually.

The problem with manual levy collection

• Trustees spend hours every month reconciling bank statements to identify which owners have paid
• Owners pay different reference numbers or no reference at all, making EFT matching unreliable
• Arrears build up silently because there's no real-time visibility into who hasn't paid
• AGM financial reports rely on spreadsheets that may have errors or missing data
• Special levies under Section 37 of the STSMA create additional billing complexity on top of regular levies
• No clear audit trail for CSOS disputes or legal proceedings against defaulting owners

How it works for body corporates

wabill Collect handles the billing process for your body corporate. Here is how trustees would set it up:

• Create a group on the wabill dashboard (e.g., 'Oakfield Villas: Monthly Levies')
• Add each unit owner as a member: their name and WhatsApp number
• Set the levy amount for each unit (different units can have different amounts based on participation quota)
• Choose your billing day (e.g., the 1st of every month)
• On billing day, wabill sends each owner an invoice and payment link via WhatsApp
• Owners pay via card, EFT, Capitec Pay, SnapScan, or Apple Pay
• Trustees see every payment in real time on the dashboard, no bank statement matching

Example: 24-unit complex, R1,850 per month

A 24-unit sectional title complex in Pretoria charges a monthly levy of R1,850 per unit. The trustees create a group on wabill with 24 members, each set to their respective levy amount (some units may differ based on participation quota). The billing day is set to the 1st.

On the 1st of every month, each owner receives a WhatsApp message with their invoice and a secure payment link. Owners tap the link, choose their payment method, and pay. Trustees open the dashboard and see exactly which owners have paid. No waiting for bank statements, no matching reference numbers, no guessing.

At R1,850 across 24 units, that's R44,400 in monthly levies collected with a complete digital record for every transaction. When it's time for the AGM, trustees have a clear payment history to present: who paid, when, and how much.

Special levy collection

When the body corporate raises a special levy under Section 37 of the STSMA, for roof repairs, painting, or any unbudgeted expense, you can create a separate group specifically for that levy. Set each owner's amount according to the special levy resolution, choose a billing day, and wabill handles the collection. This keeps special levies separate from monthly levies on your dashboard, making tracking straightforward.

Transparent records for AGMs and disputes

Every payment made through wabill is digitally recorded with the owner, amount, date, and payment method. This gives trustees documented payment histories that are useful in several situations:

• AGM reporting: present a clear view of levy collection, arrears, and payment trends
• CSOS disputes: provide documented evidence of non-payment when escalating to the Community Schemes Ombud Service
• Property transfers: confirm whether levies are current when an owner sells their unit (relevant to Section 15(2) clearance certificates)
• Trustee handovers: the incoming committee has a complete digital history instead of a folder of bank statements

Payment methods

Owners choose their preferred payment method at secure checkout:

• Card: Visa, Mastercard, Amex (debit or credit) at 2.9% + R1 per transaction
• Instant EFT via Ozow: all major SA banks at 2% per transaction
• Capitec Pay: direct from Capitec app at 2% per transaction
• SnapScan: scan QR code to pay at 2.9% + R1 per transaction
• Apple Pay: tap to pay on iPhone at 2.9% + R1 per transaction

All processing fees are per transaction and VAT exclusive. wabill does not charge any additional fees on top of your plan.

Getting started

Set up your body corporate levy collection in under 15 minutes. Sign up on the wabill dashboard, create a group for your scheme, add your unit owners, set each owner's levy amount and the billing day, and let wabill handle the monthly collection. Your first billing cycle is free, so you can see how it works before the body corporate commits to a plan.