Municipal valuations are disputed by taxpayers

MALALANE – Pursuant to an invitation from Nkomazi East Combined Commerce and Tourism Association (Neccta) and Malalane Chamber of Commerce, DDP Valuers’ Mr Bertus van Eck had to explain and defend the latest valuations offered by them and accepted by the local municipality this year.

These valuations are subject to objections until April 2 this year, but if there are none, the roll will stand until a new one is conducted again in four years.

Komatipoort and Marloth Park taxpayers met Van Eck at Kambaku Golf Club and those of Malalane and Hectorspruit met him in Malalane at Paradise Creek.

“The previous valuation process and this end result could hardly be described as anything else but a disaster,” said chairman of Neccta Mr Jan Engelbrecht. “Organised trade and tourism petitioned to the municipality to strike that valuation and requested a fall-back to the previous roll.

Taxpayers then also demanded that the fee paid to them should be refunded.

“It seems that this has not been done. From the floor, from the well attended meetings in the two towns, on March 19, it was very clear that Nkomazi Municipality, subsequent to the previous roll, neither acknowledged receipt to all, nor properly attended to most formal complaints lodged against the previous assessments.”

This explains why taxpayers this time desired to acquaint themselves with the valuation team, and to be sure taxpayers will this time be treated professionally.”

Engelbrecht, Mr Tony Hayman, chairman of the Marloth Park Property Association and Mr Herman Potgieter chairman of Malalane Chamber of Commerce concur that the latest published roll is an improvement. The processes are sound, the values are mostly correct and acceptable and it is clear they remain involved and are approachable in the event of any uncertainty.

Most attendees expressed satisfaction with what has transpired to deliver the valuation role, and assumes the personal responsibility to hand in their objections, where relevant, and as prescribed by law, duly to the municipality.

It is also noted that failure to object to low values would merely cause adjustments in future and taxpayers who enjoyed unfair benefit now, might be taxed retrospectively later and the difference could be collected by municipality in a lump sum.

The concerns remaining are therefor whether the individual complaints this time will be noted, attended to and whether taxpayers could bank on feedback.

DDP Valuers assured the meeting it would assist the municipality to attend to this. A register to record filed objections would be kept and objectors should ensure they received formal acknowledgement.

Collectively the tax ayers’ other concern consequently is what rate the municipality will determine.

“Life in Nkomazi is not only easy and as times are tough, a high rate will certainly have repercussions.

Also, could the taxpayers of these towns, where the money is collected, expect continued and improved service delivery?” asked Engelbrecht.

The meeting again expressed satisfaction with the local deployed officials and their diligence, yet had to reiterate that it took unreasonably long for municipality to engage Escom to increase the bulk power supply.

In Marloth Park electricity supply to an area remains unsatisfactory, a matter important and well disclosed to and known by the municipality. “Tax payers contributing that high to the bulk pool, may certainly at least expect service delivery in their towns!” said Engelbrecht. “What is evident is that a close relationship between the chambers and land owners associations with the local municipality and management, proves to be fruitful.”

The forums desire regular meetings with the entire municipal management team, to assist them in prioritising needs, measuring delivery and assisting with implementation. Each of the towns will disclose its crisis in priority sequence to the municipal management team.

Internally the associations this year takes bold steps at some cost to perfect a proper communication system between the forums and all residents and businesses.

To this end a web master has been committed to the combined town portal www.komatipoort.co.za, www.malalane.co.za and www.mppoa.co.za, who will make effort to ensure every business in each town is tabled on the site, all or most events in these towns are tabled and synchronised, and all tax payers and residents are at all times properly informed of relevant matters, including municipal engagement.

The complete evaluation roll can be found on the municipal website www.nkomazi.gov.za