Dissatisfaction with property valuations in Tshwane Metro requires urgent investigation – AfriForum
The Tshwane Metro’s latest property valuation roll, which was released earlier this month, is already causing dissatisfaction among owners and, according to the civil rights organisation AfriForum, requires urgent investigation. Residents of this metro are encouraged to report excessive increases to AfriForum as part of their new property valuations campaign. With the public’s help, AfriForum intends to launch an independent investigation into whether or not the new property valuations in this metro are fair. If necessary, AfriForum will challenge the valuation roll in its entirety or just for specific neighbourhoods.
According to Deidré Steffens, AfriForum’s Advisor for Local Government Affairs, some of the complaints that the organisation has already received about the new valuations suggest that they are marked by excessively high increases. She argues that it is therefore essential to determine the fairness of increases to investigate the possibility of targeted, regionally bound, exaggerated increases – done with the aim of making the Metro’s budget fit.
“It is no secret that the Tshwane Metro is suffering due to high Eskom debt, water losses, dilapidated infrastructure and the non-payment of municipal debts by homeowners, businesses and state institutions,” explains Steffens. “An increased property valuation directly contributes to higher property rates and therefore higher revenue for the Metro. In cases where the political will to cut unnecessary expenses or to effectively collect debts is lacking, the introduction of higher taxes – as in the case of property rates – is a quick and easy way to fill the municipal coffers.”
The fairness of increases is therefore of critical importance, Steffens emphasises.
Metro residents now have until Friday, 2 May, to officially object to the adjusted property valuation with the Metro before they will be assessed according to this valuation in July.
“As a civil rights organisation that fights for the proper management of state and municipal funds, it is also important to ensure that these funds are obtained lawfully. Therefore, through this campaign, we want to determine, among other things, the percentage increase and determine whether certain areas are being targeted by higher and unfair increases,” says Steffens. “The metro has the mandate to collect property rates. However, this right may not be abused by unfair tax levels. It will take much more to turn the struggling Tshwane Metro around than just filling the metro’s wallet.”
Participate in AfriForum’s property valuations campaign
Visit the petitions page on AfriForum’s website and provide the information regarding the previous and new valuation of your property/properties in the Tshwane Metro. The valuation valid until the end of June 2025 appears on your municipal account. The link to the latest valuation roll is also available on the AfriForum campaign website.