Ekurhuleni’s Valuation Roll process endangering residents’ lives
by Ald. Shadow Shabangu — DA Chairperson in Ekurhuleni
Date: 17 June 2021
Release: Immediate
Type: Media statement
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Ekurhuleni has been fighting the flawed property valuation process implemented by the ANC and their coalition partners*.
Earlier this month, we, as the DA, submitted a people-driven valuation roll petition, pleading with the ANC-led City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) to act in the interest of Ekurhuleni residents and businesses, and postpose the highly flawed valuation roll process. Our petition has been blatantly ignored as residents have until the 18th of June to contest their proposed, new property valuations.
With the deadline just hours away, residents are forced to forgo their safety, and stand in lengthy queues for prolonged hours to hand in their valuation objections. Amid an even deadlier Covid-19 third wave, the ANC and their coalition partners are knowingly putting residents’ lives in tremendous danger.
Scientists have confirmed that Gauteng is currently the epicentre of South Africa’s third wave and that Covid-19 numbers are about to exceed previous peaks. Just yesterday (16 June), South Africa recorded 13 246 new cases and the percent testing positive increased to 21.7%. Yet, the ANC and its coalition partners are happy to toy and play politics with people’s lives.
As the DA, we have also requested that an online submission process be put in place to avoid residents being forced to put their health and safety in danger, as waiting in lines during the Covid-19 pandemic is unsafe and it increases the risk of infection. Yet, the ANC and coalition partners failed to heed our call.
The handling of this valuation process by the ANC and its coalition partners has been completely appalling. Given the lack of Covid-19 safety protocols and Lockdown 3 Regulations at many of the Ekurhuleni Customer Care Centres, the DA will be writing to the South African Human Rights Commission to report the unhealthy environment many residents had to endure.
The residents of Ekurhuleni deserve a well-run government that provides a healthy and safe environment, not an administration that infringes on their rights to health and wellbeing.
#Time4Change
*ANC Coalition Partners: African Independent Congress (AIC), Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), Patriotic Alliance (PA) and Independent Ratepayers Association of South Africa (IRASA)
Media Enquiries
Ald. Shadow Shabangu
DA Chairperson in Ekurhuleni
