Alan

Some Relief for Ratepayers Objecting to High Rates Determinations

Alan · 23 August 2022 ·

Ratepayers in Nelson Mandela Bay who have received incorrect valuations or have been incorrectly recategorised should not be bullied into paying exorbitant taxes by the municipality.

In a letter addressed to NMB Chief Financial Officer, Mr Selwyn Thys, the DA NMB Mayoral Candidate, Retief Odendaal, requested that ratepayers who received a rates-increase of more than 30% and have objected or appealed the outcome of the General Valuation process, be allowed to defer the payment of the increased portion until the objection/appeals processes were finalised.

Thys has now stated in official correspondence that this will not be allowed on a blanket basis but that in specific instances, where in the opinion of the municipality obvious errors did occur, such an arrangement will be made.

Ratepayers who have had exorbitant annual rates increases due to inflated valuations or incorrect rating categories are encouraged to make use of the aforesaid arrangement.

The request for a hold to be placed on an account can be send to customercare@mandelametro.gov.za

Thys has also given clarity regarding the introduction of a valuation query fee. He indicated that in the event that a property was substantially incorrectly valued and the owner did not object, property owners can submit a request for a review with supporting documentation to the Municipal Valuer. In instances where errors occurred, no fee will be payable.

There is already a massive rates burden on existing ratepayers considering the fact that there is such a small base of ratepayers. Our rating factors remain some of the highest of all metropolitan municipalities in the country. The municipality has to do everything in its ability to ensure that it assists those ratepayers that elect to make use of their legislated right to object.

“If you require any assistance with your rates account, please do not hesitate to email us at objectNMBvaluation@da.org.za,” concluded Odendaal.

The Rates Reprieve Pushback Gets Support

Alan · 16 August 2022 ·

“Thousands of ratepayers in Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) could soon have a temporary-rates reprieve if the DA is successful in fighting the administration over its general valuation processes,” says Cllr Malcolm Figg, the DA NMB Spokesperson for Budget and Treasury.

The recent General Valuation 2022 has left thousands of ratepayers with increased valuations, which have led to a substantial increase in liability for property rates payable. Although a significant portion of the valuations may be market-related, there has been a public outcry over incorrect and overly inflated valuations which have resulted in unfair rate assessments.

In certain instances, property rate assessments have increased by as much as 200%. Where the change in valuation of the property has been accompanied by a change in the rating category, the increase in rates assessments could be as much as 1000%.

Adding insult to injury is the fact that NMB has now started to charge a fee for all valuation and rating category queries – ostensibly in a bid to discourage property owners from challenging the General Valuation processes.

The DA will continue to encourage property owners to object to incorrect or unfair valuations. We have written to the City Manager, Dr Noxolo Nqwazi, and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Mr Selwyn Thys, to allow property owners who have had an increase of more than 30% in their rates and who are disputing the outcome of the General Valuation process, to pay a reduced amount in rates until their disputes have been finalised.

In addition, we have requested that the Metro waive all valuation query fees where property owners are successful in disputing valuations or changes in rating categories.

Should the administration fail to adhere to these reasonable requests, we will encourage property owners to lodge a formal dispute with the municipality in terms of Section 102 of the Systems Act in respect of any excessive increase in rates that are subject to an objection process.

The DA will continue to put pressure on the NMB administration to treat all our residents fairly. Excessive increases in property rates payable can have a devastating impact on cash-strapped households who are already struggling to make ends meet.

All property owners that require assistance in objecting to unfair municipal valuations can contact their local DA ward councillor or email us at objectNMBvaluation@da.org.za.

2022 – 2026 Inspection Of Supplementary Valuation Roll And Lodging Of Objections

Alan · 2 August 2022 ·

CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMISSION OF OBJECTIONS: FRIDAY, 19 AUGUST 2022 BEFORE 16:00

Notice is hereby given, in terms of Section 49(1)(a)(i) read together with Section 78(2) of the Local Government: Municipal Property Rates Act of 2004 (Act No. 6 of 2004) (hereinafter referred to as the “Act”), that the Supplementary Valuation Roll for the financial years 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2026 is open for public inspection at the office of the Chief Financial Officer, Ground Floor, Mfanasekhaya Gqobose Building, Govan Mbeki Avenue, Port Elizabeth for the period 11 July 2022 to 19 August 2022, Mondays to Fridays, during office hours from 08:00 to 16:00. In addition, the supplementary valuation roll is also available on the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s website at www.nelsonmandelabay.gov.za.

Property owners or other persons are hereby invited, in terms of Section 49(1)(a)(ii) read together with Section 78(2) of the Act, to lodge an objection with the City Manager in respect of any matter reflected in, or omitted from, the Valuation Roll within the above-mentioned period.

Attention is specifically drawn to the fact that in terms of Section 50(2) of the Act, an objection must be in relation to a specific individual property and not against the supplementary valuation roll as such.

The objection form is obtainable at all Customer Care Centres, or on the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s website at www.nelsonmandelabay.gov.za. (Document library, Category FORMS)

The completed objection forms must be returned by e-mail to: customercare@mandelametro.gov.za or posted to:

CITY MANAGER
Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality Valuation Roll
PO Box 834
PORT ELIZABETH
6000

Alternatively, they may be handed in at any Municipal Customer Care Centre or online on the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality website: www.nelsonmandelabay.gov.za

Mfanasekhaya Gqobose (old City Treasure), Govan Mbeki Avenue, Central, Port Elizabeth
Korsten Office, Ablett Street, Korsten (at Traffic Department & Library opposite Livingstone hospital)
Uitenhage Office, Uitenhage City Hall
Thusong Centre Motherwell, corner Maku Road and Tyinirha Road, NU4B
New Brighton, Ntshekisa Road
Kwanobuhle, Ponana Tini Road (next to Fire Station)
Despatch Centre at Despatch Townhall
Cleary Park Office (in the Cleary Park Shopping Centre)
Walmer, Heugh Road

For enquiries, please contact the Municipality’s Call Centre on 041 506 5555.

CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMISSION OF OBJECTIONS: FRIDAY, 19 AUGUST 2022 BEFORE 16:00