The City of Cape Town has made significant progress in processing the 35 000 objections to the 2006 General Valuation Roll. 9500 objections have been resolved.

Letters advising objectors of the outcome will be posted in a fortnight.

“The process whereby objections are resolved is rather lengthy because the integrity of the outcome is paramount” says Valuation Director, Chris Gavor.

“We have contracted five external companies to assist the municipality in dealing with objections. The process entails each of the objectors being visited by municipal- appointed valuer. Each visit occurs by prior arrangement with the owner or tenant of a property. We appeal to property owners to keep appointment times as scheduled. Objectors can contact the City’s call centre on 086 010 3089 for more details or visit its website at www.capetown.gov.za to check the identity of their valuer or of the data collector visiting the property. Click on Property Valuations on the left of the webpage and then on “Identify your valuer” which displays a photograph and the Valuation Field Identity (VFI) number for the more than 180 people on the valuation team. This will enable them to acquaint themselves with the identity of their valuer or data collector prior to the visit.

“After the property has been inspected and the valuer has arrived at a decision, the findings are presented to the Municipal Valuer for perusal and sign off. It is then sent to the Revenue Department for updating,” he says.

Should the municipal valuer determine that an alternative recommended market value is proposed, the value will be adjusted. What should be noted is that the value determined via the appeal process may result in the value remaining unchanged, being reduced or being increased.

The objector will be advised of the decision. If they are not satisfied they can lodge an appeal with the Valuation Appeal Board.

“If the municipal valuer adjusts a value by more than 10%, it will be referred, with written reasons, to the City Manager. He will then submit the decision and the objection to the Valuation Appeal Board for review. The constitution of the valuation appeal board will be done by the MEC for local government. Currently the applications are being reviewed by the department and it is expected that the valuation appeal board will be constituted by the middle of October 2007.

“The Appeal Board must review all submitted decisions and appeals. It can then confirm, amend or revoke the decision of the municipal valuer. If a decision is amended or revoked, the Chairperson of the valuation appeal board and the municipal valuer must ensure that the valuation roll is adjusted accordingly,” says Gavor.

Objectors still have to pay the rates due while objections and appeals are being heard. Council recognised the large increases in residential valuations as opposed to other types of properties and increased the residential rebate from 30% to 46%, increased the qualifying monthly household income for the Senior Citizen Rates Rebate by 66% to R5 000 and increased the indigent grant from R20 to R30 per month for all properties valued at R199 000 or less. In cases where the increase in rates has caused financial hardship to property owners because of their financial constraints the City will endeavour to assist them as follows:

* where an objection to the valuation has been lodged and the owner is experiencing difficulty in paying the increased rates amount prior to the objection being resolved, the City will assist by allowing the payment of rates based on the valuation suggested by the objector (depending the outcome of a financial assessment) until the objection is resolved.

* where no objection to the valuation has been lodged and the owner is experiencing difficulty in paying the increased rates amount, the City encourages such owners to visit any of City Finances’ contact centres (as shown below) in order to obtain assistance by way of an informal arrangement until the end of the current financial year i.e. 30 June 2008.

Property owners who are experiencing hardship and who wish to make use of the above assistance offered by the City are encouraged to visit the contact centres and to bring with them the following documentation:

* proof of total household income i.e. pay slips of all who reside on the property as well as proof of rental income;

* if there are no pay slips, affidavits to this effect must be provided;

* copies of identity documents (certified);

* bank statements from the last three months.

These are temporary arrangements to allow property owners time to make the necessary financial adjustments resulting from the increased valuations.

Attached is a list of contact centres for enquiries:

ISSUED BY:

DIRECTORATE:  COMMUNICATION

CITY OF CAPE TOWN

TEL:  021 400 2201