WATCH: ‘Excessively high’ valuations spark public outcry

The recently released CoE valuation roll has provoked a public outcry, with residents questioning the credibility of the valuation method used.

In response to the outcry, disgruntled residents adversely affected by the city’s valuations gathered at the municipal old town hall on March 26, where they shared their grievances emanating from what they called astronomical increases and exchanged ideas on how to object.
On the other hand, the DA in Ekurhuleni calls on residents to support its petition that asks the mayor and city manager to extend the valuation process for at least a year. The party also urges residents hit with unjustifiable increases to object to their valuations.

During the meeting, the Boksburg Advertiser spoke to a few residents who raised an outcry over “unconscionable” increases that come at a time when they are already under massive financial strain.

Here is what they said:

Solution
One of the public meeting organisers, Derek Fox of the Aerotropolis Business Chamber of Commerce and a member of the City Improvement Project, said they called the meeting after receiving reports from some property owners whose properties had increased by 300% and others by 100%.

From what Fox has gathered, despite the decline in the Commissioner Street (Boksburg CBD) area, once a thriving business hub, one of the ageing buildings on the street was valued according to the new valuation and escalated from R5.7m to R14m. Another property in the area, valued at R3.2m in the previous roll, is now valued at R9m.

“To go from that amount to R14m indicates something is not right here. We need the city to explain how it arrives at these excessively high valuations.
“We believe many other residents are facing the same situation. That is why we decided to organise this meeting to talk about the new valuation roll and take the necessary steps,” said Fox.

“We are keen to talk to people who have valuations above 10%. I know the DA is pushing for the valuation to be pushed forward by a year. We are excited to hear what might happen, but you have to object if you want to have any say in the valuation.
“Experts are willing to assist residents. You can call me on 082 886 0651, and we can put you with the right people.”

Fox said “unrealistic and unreasonable valuations” worsen matters because the city will be inundated with thousands of objections.

Ward 32 Clr Marius de Vos, also at the meeting, told the attendees that people who, in his view, don’t have the interests of ratepayers at heart, lead the city.

“I think we are here today because we are complying with the laws of this country. The Property Act compels people to pay property rates, but it is the municipality’s responsibility to ensure that properties are valued at a correct market-related rate.

“Now, what we have picked up is whenever we have this process underway, people complain about astronomical charges on their property values, and that causes some panic among residents because some can’t afford their properties if rates escalate at that level.”

Why?
“But we also know why we have this kind of unjustifiable escalation in property rates:

It’s because when the city appoints valuers, it opts for cronies, friends and people with no knowledge of this tedious and important task of the valuation of properties. That is why some people get property rate increases of over 300%. Others get zero-rated in some spaces.

“We keep battling to get the municipality to appoint credible property valuers with track records in property and who steer away from massaging their political interests because here we are dealing with people’s investments. People keep investing but want to pay a fair rate for their properties.

Petition
De Vos confirmed that the DA in the city had launched a petition asking the mayor and city manager to intervene.
“From our side, we are encouraging people to object if they feel the valuation of their properties was not correctly done and are charged astronomical amounts the municipality can’t even justify.

“We want to ask the city manager and mayor to suspend the new roll for at least one year so they can go back and do thorough investigations in cases when properties were charged astronomical values.
“We also want them to do a review of the current valuers they have appointed because we are of the view there are many errors in the process.
“They cannot explain why a Boksburg CBD property value has now increased by over 300%, even though there was nothing done to that property, like extensions or renovations. So, this thumb-suck approach must be investigated, and that is what we are asking for.

The petition is available here.

Expert opinion
The event also drew property experts who advised on the valuation process and offered to assist those unhappy and intending to object.
One expert pointed out that they had helped a Lilianton resident in the previous roll, whose property was valued at R800 000 and went up to R3m. After the objection process, the valuation was dropped to R850 000.

Another resident said they had had the same issue in the previous term. Their property was over-inflated, but they were unsuccessful with the objection.
The community plans to have another public meeting. The date will be communicated here and on other public platforms.

The city’s fifth General Valuation Roll for July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2029, is open for public comment.
Property owners can inspect the roll, which comes into effect with the new financial year on July 1, at the CoE’s walk-in centres between 08:30 and 15:30, Monday to Friday, and on the city’s website (www.ekurhuleni.gov.za) until June 25.

Also Read: Ekurhuleni valuation roll riddled with errors – residents