Rates meeting told: Living in Sandton doesn’t make us rich

09 February 2017

 

The City of Johannesburg must factor in current trends in the market when it undertakes its valuation process so ratepayers’ properties could remain within the market value.

 

This was one of the suggestions put forward by ratepayers during a Property Rates Policy review meeting at Ernest Ullman Park Recreation Centre in Morningside, Sandton, in Region E on Wednesday evening February 8.

The meeting was one of several being rolled out by the City to give ratepayers the opportunity to comment on the current property rates to ensure that the rates policy remains sustainable and the related tariffs are equitable and affordable.

A Gallo Manor resident asked City officials to explain what the valuation process entailed. “I’d like to understand how it works. Can you also tell us what the new tariffs will be? Wed’ like to have direct access to valuators. We’re seeing slums popping up in our area. Our properties are devalued because of this,” said the property owner.

A 72-year-old pensioner, who has lived in Morningside for 42 years, said he was concerned about the R2-million pensioner rebates threshold.

“Is there any chance that this could be increased to the R3-million mark? Everybody is struggling at the moment. We need these pensioner rebates. I think it is unfair that we cannot qualify because of the set threshold. We deserve a break,” said the pensioner.

A Riverland resident said her elderly mother had not been given a rebate. “I was told that to qualify you have to be above 70. My mother is sick. We need to be more sympathetic to pensioners. Most of these pensioners cannot afford these rates. It’s not fair to say just because they’re in Sandton it means they’re rich,” she said.

Responding to some of the issues raised by residents, Phumza Jack, a Rates Policy Specialist in the City’s Property Rates Policy Unit, said there were no new proposed tariffs at present.

“We don’t have them. They will be available in April. When we write a report we will say the people of Sandton have told us to increase the current threshold [for pensioner rebates] to R3-million. We will give you feedback once the report has been tabled before the council,” said Jack.

The second phase of the consultation process will take place in April during which the new proposals will be presented and finalised.

Comments can be submitted in writing to fax number 086 447 7567 or toratescomments@joburg.org.za, ratescomments@joburg.org.za and pumzaj@joburg.org.za.