The King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) council has succumbed to pressure from the public – and provincial government – and set aside a new valuation roll that saw property prices soar, with some more than doubling.
Residents were up in arms as the valuations would have seen their rates double too. Many pointed out that roads in their neighbourhood were in a shocking state and sewers often burst, spilling sewage onto the streets.
Yesterday, council speaker Dumani Zozo, who is also the ANC’s KSD sub-regional leader, said the municipality would undertake extensive public participation from now until a new valuation roll is made available.
For the current financial year, the municipality will use the old valuation roll, until a new one is formulated next year.
The council took the decision after KSD executive mayor Nonkoliso Ngqongwa recommended that the municipality apply for an extension of the validity of the old roll until June next year and that council continued to bill according to it.
Zozo said: “The council has always considered that the issue of the valuation roll needs wider consultation and participation of members of the public. We have agreed we should use the old valuation roll from this month going forward while we are doing public consultation.
“We are going to communicate and consult with everybody. We will also get valuers from the national government who will form part of this public participation.
Opposition parties said the municipality should recover the funds paid to the contractor who won the tender to prepare the new roll.
A councillor from an opposition party said the firm, Khanyisa Property & Management, had been paid R1.4-million for the valuation but KSD spokesman Sonwabo Mampoza was unable to confirm this figure.
Civic Alliance of South Africa councillor Pasika Nontshiza said: “We accept the advice from the MEC that we reverse the process. The council should examine how efficient this is. Were it not for the vigilance of the residents themselves, they would be wallowing in debt.
“KSD must apologise to the residents and inform them how it is going to recover such an enormous amount of money from the service provider.”
The UDM’s Mabandla Gogo said the steep valuation was an attempt by city officials to close the gap left by the payment to Landmark, the property development company that successfully sued the municipality for R300-million.
“Our position as the UDM has been that the process was not done properly from the word go. Not all stakeholders, including property owners, were consulted. This resolution by council vindicates us.”
He lambasted the ANC-led council for trying to win over the ratepayers ahead of the 2016 local government elections.
But Zozo refuted the claims that the valuation was an attempt to make money.
“Those claims are not true. It is mischief from those who say so. They want to score cheap political points,” he said. — abongilem@dispatch.co.za
KSD puts valuation roll on ice
Residents were up in arms as the valuations would have seen their rates double too. Many pointed out that roads in their neighbourhood were in a shocking state and sewers often burst, spilling sewage onto the streets.
Yesterday, council speaker Dumani Zozo, who is also the ANC’s KSD sub-regional leader, said the municipality would undertake extensive public participation from now until a new valuation roll is made available.
For the current financial year, the municipality will use the old valuation roll, until a new one is formulated next year.
The council took the decision after KSD executive mayor Nonkoliso Ngqongwa recommended that the municipality apply for an extension of the validity of the old roll until June next year and that council continued to bill according to it.
Zozo said: “The council has always considered that the issue of the valuation roll needs wider consultation and participation of members of the public. We have agreed we should use the old valuation roll from this month going forward while we are doing public consultation.
“We are going to communicate and consult with everybody. We will also get valuers from the national government who will form part of this public participation.
Opposition parties said the municipality should recover the funds paid to the contractor who won the tender to prepare the new roll.
A councillor from an opposition party said the firm, Khanyisa Property & Management, had been paid R1.4-million for the valuation but KSD spokesman Sonwabo Mampoza was unable to confirm this figure.
Civic Alliance of South Africa councillor Pasika Nontshiza said: “We accept the advice from the MEC that we reverse the process. The council should examine how efficient this is. Were it not for the vigilance of the residents themselves, they would be wallowing in debt.
“KSD must apologise to the residents and inform them how it is going to recover such an enormous amount of money from the service provider.”
The UDM’s Mabandla Gogo said the steep valuation was an attempt by city officials to close the gap left by the payment to Landmark, the property development company that successfully sued the municipality for R300-million.
“Our position as the UDM has been that the process was not done properly from the word go. Not all stakeholders, including property owners, were consulted. This resolution by council vindicates us.”
He lambasted the ANC-led council for trying to win over the ratepayers ahead of the 2016 local government elections.
But Zozo refuted the claims that the valuation was an attempt to make money.
“Those claims are not true. It is mischief from those who say so. They want to score cheap political points,” he said. — abongilem@dispatch.co.za
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