FAR NORTH
Bulletin F A R 28 April 2017
N O R T H www.bulletin.us.com
SUZUKI TZANEEN
M E D I A
015 306 0198 • 072 930 1462 • 071 268 2543
R4
Rural ares:FREE • Platteland: GRATIS
33 SKIRVING STREET, TZANEEN www.bbtzaneensuzuki.co.za | FSP: 20848
Diagnostic Radiologists
We do pregnancy ultrasounds & Foetal anomaly scans Book today! Mediclinic Tzaneen • 015 306 0098 www.afrirad.co.za
015 307 5754 Freedom for all. This week the nation celebrated the legacy that was left (or rather abandoned by the ruling party) by the late President Nelson Mandela. As the country enjoyed another in a string of long-weekends this April, a large percentage of South Africans are left forgotten as winter approaches. Unemployment, rising racial tension and poverty - this is our new freedom.
GTM revaluations
Property owners scrutinise new values Property owners in Tzaneen have until Thursday (4th of May) to object to the revaluation of their properties as per the Greater Tzaneen Municipality’s 2017 Valuation roll. The roll was published on their website and notices were issued to property owners earlier this month in terms of section 49(1) (i) and (ii) of the Municipal Property Rates act 6 of 2004. Some owners were shocked to learn that the value of their properties had been escalated to more than R500 000 of its initial value. The implications of this drastic increase could be catastrophic. The higher the value of your property, the higher your monthly rates. Section 45(2)(a) of the Act states that inspection of properties is optional. This could mean that actual data collected, such as the size or category (zoning) of your property, or even the number or type of fixed structures on that property, may not be accurately recorded. The Act mandates that both land and buildings be valued together for the purposes of
imposing a single Cent amount in the Rand on them. According to Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) however, irrespective of how the data is collected, or how the properties are inspected, all data must be accurate, capable of verification and able to withstand scrutiny. COGTA states in its general guidelines on initiating the valuation process (published online in September 2016) that because of the general lack of high quality aerial photographs from which electronic measurements can be taken, it is doubtful whether inspections of properties can be avoided. The practice by some municipalities of valuing and rating land only, or valuing land and buildings separately (based on the old Provincial Ordinances) in order to impose different Cent amounts in the Rand on them, will no longer be applicable in terms of the Act, according to COGTA. Bulletin has seen some valuation letters sent to property
owners which show a drastic increase in the value of said properties, but seems to be determined solely on the size and category of the specific property. It makes no reference to the structures on the property, nor does it identify the municipal valuer who conducted the inspection or on which date it was conducted. Furthermore, the municipality is required to consult their community on a draft rates policy as each municipality determines its own Cent-to-Rand rates. The adopted rates policies then have to be given effect by specifically adopted by-laws. It is alleged that the GTM currently have no promulgated by-laws, which could bring the valuation of a property into dispute. Bulletin will ask for comment from the GTM and that will be published in next week’s edition. — Joe Dreyer joe@bulletin.us.com