May 13

Specimen letter to the MEC for Local Government for Late Objection to Valuations

Date: [insert your address and other contact details]

Ms. Ntombi Mekgwe
MEC: Local Government
Province of Gauteng
37 Pixley ka Seme [formerly Sauer] Street
JOHANNESBURG

Dear Ms. Mekgwe

Application for condonation in terms of Section 80 of the Local Government: Municipal Property Rates Act No. 6 of 2004

I am the owner of property in the City of Johannesburg being Erf No. [insert] in the Township of [insert suburb name].

The Chief Valuer of the City, for the purpose of the Johannesburg 2013 General Valuation Roll, has valued my property at [insert amount]. I wish to object to this valuation for the reasons set out below.

During the month of february, 2013, the City notified all property owners in the City of the valuations assigned to their properties and invited them to submit their objections to the valuation by no later than 3rd May, 2013.

I was unable to submit an objection by the aforesaid date because [set out your reasons and see notes below ].

I respectfully state that my application for condonation of a late submission of an objection is well grounded and has prospects of success. The valuation of [insert amount] assigned to the property is in excess of the market value as at 1st July, 2013. According to the opinion of [insert name of estate agent] the correct value is [insert amount]. I attach the estate agents letter which motivates the alternative valuation.

For all these reasons I respectfully request you to allow me to submit an objection within such time and subject to such conditions as the Act permits you to impose in your discretion.

Yours truly,

Notes:-

1. If you have been abroad attach photocopy pages from your passport ceertified as true copies by a Commisioner of Oaths
2. If you were in ill health attach a medical certificate

May 13

Relief for property owners who missed the 3rd May, 2013 deadline to submit objections to Johannesburg property valuations

Media Release by:

John Mendelsohn

DA Shadow MMC for the Municipal Public Accounts Committee

The deadline for property owners who wished to submit objections to the valuations assigned to their properties in the Johannesburg 2013 General Valuation Roll expired on 3rd May, 2013.

Some of the affected owners may have very good reasons for failing to have submitted objections in good time, for example. such as being abroad, ill health or not having received the notice of valuation because of the postal workers’ strike. Read the rest of this entry »

May 07

City of Joburg 96/97 campaign is not the answer to housing backlogs in the metro

Media Release by:

Tsepo Mhlongo

Shadow Member of the Mayoral Committee for Housing in the City of Johannesburg

Today, the City of Johannesburg launched the 96/97 Campaign, aimed at verifying the number of applicants who first applied for housing subsidies during the period 1996/97. The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the City of Johannesburg does not believe that this will adequately address housing backlogs in the metro.

According to Johannesburg Mayor, Parks Tau, the 96/97 campaign will be used to verify existing housing data; this was collected during a campaign run by the provincial government in 2008 called Ziveze. To date, the provincial and municipal housing departments have failed to co-operate or share this information. If the data was collected correctly in the first place, the Johannesburg metro is simply incurring undue costs. If it was not, questions need to be raised in this regard. Read the rest of this entry »

May 06

Parkhurst Parking Issues to be Resolved Soon?

Media Release by:

Tim Truluck

Spokesperson on Paid Parking in the City of Johannesburg

The City of Johannesburg has requested the MMC for Public Safety, Cllr Selly Lemao, to take the necessary steps to resolve the challenges on paid parking meter system in Parkhurst by 9 May.

This was the recommendation voted on in a full Council Meeting on Thursday 25 April 2013 when a Public Safety Section 79 oversight committee report on the “Public Hearings Conducted on the Rollout of Paid Parking System in Parkhurst” was presented.

This report on the public hearings on the paid parking scheme is just the latest indictment in the botched roll out and subsequent mismanagement that continues to embarrass this City while punishing the tiny and vibrant northern suburb of Parkhurst. Read the rest of this entry »

Apr 11

DA in Joburg to launch Tips for Tau campaign

Media Release by:

Mmusi Maimane

Leader of the DA Caucus in the City of Johannesburg

Note to Editors: This statement was made by the DA Caucus Leader in Johannesburg at a Press Conference earlier today.

I would like to take this opportunity today to introduce the newly elected caucus leadership for the DA in Johannesburg. On Tuesday evening, we elected a new Caucus Chairperson, Susanne Clarke, we elected a new Political Support Chairperson, Darren Bergman, and I nominated a new Chief Whip, Alan Fuchs. Read the rest of this entry »

Apr 10

Pikitup: Quarterly report shows financial and operational mismanagement

Media Release by:

Alan Fuchs

DA Chief Whip in the City of Johannesburg and Spokesperson on Pikitup

Historically, Pikitup has been one of the worst run entities in the City Johannesburg due to poor management and lack of proper oversight by the Executive. This is evident from the second quarter report of the financial year (Oct. to Dec 2012)

Financially, the entity has a deficit of over R400 million and is hopelessly insolvent. Revenue has dropped and costs are escalating. Employee and fleet costs make up 87% of the total operating costs. Shockingly, only 12% of the capital budget had been spent by December 2012. Read the rest of this entry »

Mar 28

Incompetent service by City Parks endangers the lives of public representatives

Media Release by:

Lynette Pretorius

DA Ward Councillor for City of Johannesburg Ward 68

Last night a mob of angry residents marched to the house of DA Ward Cllr Lynette Pretorius. The Councillor was blamed for the poor service delivery in the ward. The main complaint had to do with the lack of maintenance and grass cutting by City Parks. The situation became heated and JMPD and SAPS had to be called in. Cllr Pretorius produced sufficient evidence with regards to correspondence with the City and City Parks, requesting assistance with maintenance in her ward. The residents listened to Cllr Pretorius and crowd eventually dispersed peacefully. Cllr Pretorius has vowed to continue to fight for service delivery in her ward.

Please see her statement below. Cllr Pretorius is the Councillor for Ward 68 and can be contacted on 076 901 136. Read the rest of this entry »

Mar 27

DA Welcomes Concessions for Pensioners in new City of Joburg Budget

Media Release by:

John Mendelsohn

DA Shadow MMC for the Municipal Public Accounts Committee

The Johannesburg Budget for the next financial year contains good news for pensioners and gives some relief to those who struggle to pay rates on their properties in the face of an upward spiral in the cost of living. It will also bring into the net, pensioners who were previously disqualified because the value of their properties or the level of their income was above the prescribed limit. Read the rest of this entry »

Mar 25

Slovo Park housing project budget approved; City can no longer delay construction

Media Release by:

Lynette Pretorius

DA Ward Councillor for City of Johannesburg Ward 68

The City of Johannesburg has approved budget within this financial year for the construction of a housing project in Slovo Park. This follows more than two years of consultations between the community, MMC of Housing, Dan Bovu, Town Planning and housing officials, and myself.

Read the rest of this entry »

Mar 25

26 Additional Joburg Suburbs targeted for roll out of Paid Parking scheme

Media Release by:

Tim Truluck 
Councillor for City of Johannesburg Ward 117
&
Amanda Forsythe
Councillor for City of Johannesburg Ward 87

In the March 2013 City Council Agenda, the Department of Transport in the City of Johannesburg released a list of 26 additional areas that have been targeted for an audit in preparation for the roll out of the Paid Parking Scheme.

The areas are:

Alexandra, Bellevue, Birnam, Craighall Park, Cyrildene, Emmarentia, Florida, Fordsburg, Greenside, Illovo, Linden, Lenasia, Mayfair, Melville, Midrand, Northcliff, Norwood, Parkview, Randburg, Rivonia, Roodepoort, Rosebank, Rosettenville, Sandton, Soweto and Yeoville.

 

These additional areas will join Parkhurst, Braamfontein and the Johannesburg CBD where the scheme has already been operating. Read the rest of this entry »

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