Residents frustrated with delay in rebates, property valuation objections and increase in rates
Property valuation objections and rates rebates applications will lead to credit back-dating.
North Riding residents John and Eileen Picton were among those in for a shock when their pensioners rates rebate was missing on their last statement, though their bill increased by 80%.
Sundowner resident David Strachan was another, his collective rates bill going up 56%.
“It can actually force a pensioner to sell his property after living there and paying rates for 26 years,” Strachan said.
“Also, there would be no way he would get anywhere near what the property has now been revalued to.”
These residents and others have voiced frustration at substantial increases to their municipal bills as well as a perceived disregard for their property valuation objections. This is compounded by the omission of rates rebates, which have to be re-applied for.
The City of Johannesburg only warned property owners about higher-than-normal municipal bills on July 24, which came into effect the same month. Some residents saw their properties valued much higher than they thought fair, and this had a knock-on effect on their rates.
“Increases in ratepayers’ monthly bills results from the implementation of the annual tariffs on municipal service charges, property rates, effected by new property values which are aligned to the General Valuation Roll (GVR) 2023, and the lapsing of pensioner rebates,” said Kgamanyane Maphologela, the city’s director of communications and stakeholder engagement for group finance.
“All pensioners who received property rebates that lapsed on June 30, need to reapply and be re-evaluated to qualify for the new rebates. The city is sensitive to the needs of senior citizens, and all municipal accounts of registered pensioners who were previously approved to receive the lapsed pensioner rebates will immediately be flagged from any possible credit control action until the end of September 2023.”
Applications for the rebates received on or by September 30 will be back-dated to July 1.
Keep paying your bills
Some residents felt this came a bit late, while others have already been waiting months for responses to their property valuation objections. Randburg’s ward councillors have had to deal with this frustration as well as communicate for the city, their actions taken to help residents.
“Even I have been overcharged,” said an angry Ward 101 councillor Ralf Bittkau. He felt the property valuation objections and rebates applications were being ignored.
Ward 134 councillor Devon Steenkamp encouraged residents to pay their new rates in full until their valuation objections have been dealt with. “It can then even take a few more months to update your billing record. If successful, you will receive a credit back-dated to July,” he said.
He added objections typically take three to six months to conclude. Steenkamp also said pensioners should not panic, as their closing date for rebate applications is September 30 and if they qualify these will be credit back-dated to July.
“Adjustments will be done where necessary.” The ward councillor is planning an open day to help the 1 000 residents at Celebration Retirement Estate in North Riding.
Ward 99 councillor Nicole van Dyk likewise encouraged residents to pay their bills until their objections have been dealt with. She also urged pensioners to re-apply for their rebates, and to be patient.
Ward 117 councillor Tim Truluck said residents can go to the following City of Johannesburg walk-in centres for rebate forms or to apply for smart meters, pay accounts or ask for help with billing problems:
- Sandton: 137 Daisy Street, Sandown
- Roodepoort: 100 Christian De Wet Road, Florida Park.
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