No shortcuts for Jozi business sites applicants

29 February 2016

 

City of Johannesburg Rates Policy Specialist Tandisizwe Sidubulekana has urged residents who want to open businesses to follow proper procedures.

 

Speaking at a Property Rates and Taxes Review Policy meeting at the Orlando Communal Hall in Soweto on Saturday (27 February), Sidubulekana said anyone who wanted to, for example, convert a section of their properties into a tavern or spaza shop must not take short cuts but follow the correct channels.

These included attaching comments, concerns and objections raised by their immediate neighbours in their applications to the town planning board.

He said churches were exempted from paying rates and taxes but had to be registered under the name of the church and not of the priest or pastor.
Residents voiced their frustrations at not receiving their monthly statements.

Sidubulekana said it was the residents’ responsibility to inquire from their local municipal offices why they were not receiving statements. He said they also needed to check if their particulars were correct and make amendments where necessary. Saturday’s meeting formed part of round one of a public consultation process aimed at giving residents the opportunity to contribute to the content of the new policy and to ensure that property rates were equitable and affordable.

The second and final round will take place in April and May, during which time the new proposals and feedback will be incorporated into a draft document and presented to the public for comment. Other round-one meetings have already taken place in Braamfischerville, Orange Farm, Ennerdale, Midrand, Lenasia and Protea Glen.

Sidubulekana said the City's Rates Policy had been reviewed annually since 2008 to take into account legislative changes, policy direction and public input. Residents expressed their reservations about the consultation process and policy review.

Thembi Duma of Orlando West said people would like help the City to achieve equitable rates but their hands were tied. Duma said both her water and electricity meters were never read but each month she received exorbitant bills. Duma pleaded with the City to meet residents halfway.

“You must compromise and bring charges down as the majority of the residents are being overcharged," she said.

Zebulon Nchabeleng of Noordgesig said he always received two accounts for one property and was not certain which one to honour. Thembi Ndlovu of Orlando East said each time she applied for a pensioner's rebate for she was told the local offices were off line. John Mnisi of Pimville called for municipals' change of attitude.