Bedfordview residents got a chance to receive assistance with finance-related issues at the Bedfordview Finance Open Day.
Ward 20 Clr Jill Humphreys organised the consultation, which took place on April 16 at the Bedfordview Town Hall.
The councillor had requested officials to assist with:
• Interim billing
• Valuation
• Meter readings
• Pensioner rebates
• Indigent applications
• Refunds
• Clearance certificates.
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Humhpreys highlighted that this was the sixth year of a highly flawed valuation.
“As a result of that, residents are having to pay exorbitant amounts because the Bedfordview properties are grossly overvalued, which means the rates are much higher because of the wrong valuation. For example, there are houses that cost R4m but they are being valued at R15m, which is unfair.”
The councillor added that residents need to submit a Section 78 objection, which is a complex process that people often do not understand.
This is why it was important to give residents the opportunity to engage with City officials.
Humphreys was also running a petition related to the meter readings. The petition, addressed to MMC Finance Alderman Jongizizwe Dlabathi, stated that the ratepayers of Ekurhuleni demanded that the regularly submitted, actual meter readings appear on their monthly accounts.
The petition also stated that there was a critical disconnect between where the readings are sent on the CoE’s digital platforms and the actual capturing on the accounts.
Ratepayers are receiving interim readings for months, even when they have been submitted and acknowledged on the digital platforms.
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Regarding pensioner rebates, the councillor said every four Every few years, at the time of valuation, residents submit applications for rebates based on their pensioner status.
Applicants must provide proof of their pensioner status, including details of their income and property valuation, to the department, after which the applicable rebate is allocated.
Humphreys explained that some people are granted indigent status, which allows them to receive certain basic services free of charge.
However, they must still provide proof of their indigent status, as the department requires them to complete forms and declare their income.
The councillor said there are millions of rands in outstanding refunds, and the process was very long. She said there weren’t many who came to claim clearance certificates.
A Bedfordview resident since 1958, Val Vale had come to get assistance with an issue of interim readings. She acknowledged that the meeting had been helpful.
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Vale said, “I got interims since October last year. So it’s more charges. When they fix it, I will get a rebate. They’ve shared an email where I can send pictures of the readings every month.”
