The City of Johannesburg is well geared towards the deadline of February 2019 in finalising all objections lodged.
Earlier this year, the City unveiled its 2018 General Valuation Roll (GV2018), over a period of 45 days beginning 20 February – 6 April 2018.
During this period, all property owners and interested parties were invited to inspect and, where necessary, object to property details as contained in the new Valuation Roll.
The City received a total of 50,595 objections during the inspection and objection period. The GV2018 is for the period 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2022.
The City’s Municipal Valuer has started issuing outcomes of objections to property owners. To date the following Municipal Valuer’s Decisions (MVDs) have been issued and the status of those are:
• 7879 properties have no change to their municipal value
• 1216 properties have a lower market value
• 3 properties have a higher market value
• 70 properties had a category change only.
The total number of objections loaded thus far is 9268.
According to MMC for Finance, Cllr Funzela Ngobeni says “outstanding objections are currently being considered by the Municipal Valuer in terms of Section 51 of the Municipal Property Rates Act 6 of 2004, as amended (MPRA) in order to respond to all objectors and owners, timeously.”
All property owners who have received their section 53 notices are requested to start making payments on that value. Where adjustments are required these will reflect in the subsequent months.
The City however, wishes to advise all objectors to attempt to pay the amount billed for rates and taxes according to the new valuation should the objection not be successful. In the case where the objection is successful, the account will be adjusted and credited.
Cllr Ngobeni says the number of objections received determines how long the reviewing process lasts considering a number of factors.
“Each and every objection is an intense one-on-one process. The municipal Valuer has to review each objection in this process; use can be made of building plans, oblique imagery (a 3D Arial photography system), actual site visits and evidence provided by the objector.”
"The nature of the process is one that is lengthy, and we must thank Joburgers for their patience. We aim to finalize all outcome letters by the end of February 2019. As the objections outcomes letters roll out, property owners who are still unhappy about the results still have recourse through the Valuations Appeal process." added Cllr Ngobeni.
Additional Information:
The MPRA Section 55 (2) states:
"If an adjustment is in the valuation of a property affects the amount due for rates payable on that property, the municipal manager must:
(a) Calculate -
(i) the amount actually paid on the property since the effective date; and
(ii) the amount payable in terms of the adjustment on the property since the effective date; and
(b) Recover from, or repay to, the person liable for the payment of the rate the difference determined in terms of paragraph (a) plus interest at a prescribed rate.
Therefore after the completion of the objection the account will be adjusted accordingly and if your objection is successful the amount overpaid will be credited to your account.
How do I lodge an Appeal?
Details of this will be provided to you together with the outcome of your objection. If you do not agree with the decision of the Municipal Valuer to your objection, you may lodge an appeal within the prescribed manner and time period as reflected on the Municipal Valuer’s decision notice.
You need to appeal against the Municipal Valuer’s decision at Metro Centre on the prescribed appeal form as per the Municipal Property Rates Act 6 of 2004 (MPRA).
Venue : 158 Civic Boulevard
Braamfontein
Metro Centre,
B Block
2nd Floor
All supporting documents/evidence with regard to your appeal must be submitted with your appeal form.
It must be noted that you can only appeal the Municipal Valuer’s decision if an objection was lodged against the General Valuation Roll 2018 within the prescribed period.
To what extent is the Municipal Valuer’s decision final?
Section 52(2) of the MPRA states that if the Municipal Valuer changes the value of a property that was objected to by more than 10% upwards or downwards the Appeal Board must review the objection and confirm, amend or revoke the decision of the Municipal Valuer.
If you did not appeal the decision of the Municipal Valuer and your property is reviewed by the Valuation Appeal Board and they amend the property valuation your only recourse will be an escalation to a higher court which will be for your own account.
Do I need a Lawyer to represent me at the Appeal Board?
The Appeal Board is an independent Body appointed by the MEC Local Government. The Appeal Board is not a court of law, and you do not need to bring a lawyer, unless you wish to do so. You may also bring any other expert to assist you during your appeal hearing. However this will be for your own account.
The Valuation Appeal Board will consist of a Chairperson with legal qualifications and sufficient experience in the administration of justice. The remaining members will be made up of not fewer than two and not more than four other members with sufficient knowledge of, or experience in, the valuation of property. At least one must be a professional valuer registered in terms of the Property Valuer’s Profession Act 47 of 2000.
Cllr Funzela Ngobeni
MMC: Finance
City of Johannesburg
For further information contact:
Stanley Maphologela
Customer Communications: Office of the MMC Office for Finance
Cell: 081 707 3196
E-mail: stanmapho@joburg.org.za
