by: Cllr Gert Du Plessis, DA Caucus Leader: Rustenburg Local Municipality
On Tuesday 30 June 2020, the Democratic Alliance (DA) successfully opposed the proposed Municipal Valuation Roll which will save Rustenburg property owners billions of Rands in property rates.
The DA played an instrumental role after realising that the proposed new valuation roll was highly inflated compared to the current property market values in Rustenburg.
In response to the DA request, the office of Treasury provided figures related to all properties covered by the new valuation roll confirming that 46320 (46%) property values were increased by more than 100% and another 18731 (18%) were increased by 50% and 100%, while many properties were excluded making the roll unreliable.
Following this very important decision, the DA engaged with stakeholders including various property owners to obtain their inputs.
The submission outlined the abnormal proposed property values and the fact that the national lockdown regulations did not allow the prescribed public participation in terms of the Property Rates Act.
Property owners were faced with restrictions caused by the national lockdown, they couldn’t get access to the new valuation roll and to comply with the published objection requirements and cut-off dates.
Our objections to Council instructed the Municipal Manager to lodge this objection against the Municipal Valuator. The recommendation asked for an extension of one year and this was granted by the MEC for Cooperative Governance, Gordon Kegakilwe to until 30 June 2021.
Based on the Council decision, the municipality has terminated the contract with the appointed service provider.
The proposed valuation roll would have led to an unfairly high assessment of property rates levied against property owners. In addition, ratepayers were saved the cost of lodging objections and potential litigation.
The extension of the valuation roll is a victory and will save property owners billions of Rands in escalating property rates.
We would like to thank all stakeholders who assisted us in compiling this comprehensive submission and recommendation to Council to prevent the adoption of the proposed new valuation roll.
Media Enquiries:
Cllr Gert Du Plessis
DA Caucus Leader: Rustenburg Local Municipality
082 737 1650
Idah Satikhe
DA North West Communications Officer
079 700 5382