DA welcomes progress to finalise contentious property valuations in Ekurhuleni

by Cllr. Alta de Beer — DA Member of the Finance Oversight Committee in Ekurhuleni

Date: 04 February 2022

Release: Immediate

Type: Media statement

The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the progress made by the Multi-Party Coalition government to finalise the property valuations in the City of Ekurhuleni.

Member of the Mayoral Committee for Finance and Economic Development, Cllr. Graham Gersbach, has outlined areas of progress and options to address the serious concerns that many property owners in the City have experienced in finalising the 2021–2025 Valuation Property Rolls. The process, which commenced during the previous Council term, has been fraught with difficulty and controversy with many residents complaining about inaccurate and erratic valuations to their properties.

The Multi-Party Coalition is sensitive to the issues that residents have experienced, and the DA welcomes MMC Gersbach’s communication that maps out the options available to residents who wish to contest their valuation, which include the following:

Residents, who have not yet done so, must submit an appeal to the Valuation Appeals Board. The forms are available at this link: Valuation- Objections and Appeals (ekurhuleni.gov.za). For further options, a fully documented process is now also available on the City of Ekurhuleni website for the five most likely scenarios facing a property owner. Residents are advised to approach certified private valuers or area specialist estate agents if they are unsure of the value of their properties, as many objections received have not been accompanied by proper market evidence. Residents are reminded that 3 March 2022 is the deadline date for submitting objections.

In addition, the DA welcomes the appointment of the Valuation Appeals Board as advised by the MEC for Co-operative Government and Traditional Affairs, Hon. Lebogang Maile, to the Executive Mayor, Ald. Tania Campbell in a letter received this week. MMC Gersbach has requested an opportunity to address the Appeals Board to see if the process can be fast tracked and if appeals can be submitted electronically and will keep residents and other property owners informed of further developments in this regard.

The DA empathizes with residents who have been subjected to perceived unfair property valuations; however, as a Party we have full confidence in MMC Gersbach’s plan to rectify the issue. In addition, we welcome the Multi-Party Coalition’s commitment to accountability, transparency and good governance in providing a framework toward an amicable and reasonable solution to 2021–2025 Valuation Property Roll.

Cllr. Alta de Beer

DA Member of the Finance Oversight Committee in Ekurhuleni