Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor, Nqaba Bhanga, has requested the acting city manager, Mandla George, to write to the Eastern Cape Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) to request a postponement of the implementation of the general property valuation roll until 2022, as is allowed in terms of the Municipal Property Rates Act.
“The postponement of the valuations roll will give ratepayers of our city a much-needed reprieve, after the extreme hardships brought about over the past year by the coronavirus pandemic,” Bhanga said.
Every four years, in terms of the Municipal Property Rates Act, a general valuation roll of all properties must be conducted by municipalities throughout the country.
The last general valuation was conducted in Nelson Mandela Bay in 2017, meaning another valuation was set to take place this year.
“Due to the extreme hardships brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, and subsequent enforced lockdowns, many residents are facing unprecedented financial hardships. Household incomes have taken huge knocks, and in many instances, incomes have been lost completely.
The local property markets have also been widely affected by the pandemic, which could result in skewed valuations under current market conditions. Where property valuations are deemed to have increased, property rates would also be adjusted upwards, placing further financial pressure on already overburdened residents,” said Bhanga.
“It is on this basis that we have now submitted the notice of postponement to provincial government, as is allowed in terms of the Municipal Property Rates Act.
“The new Nelson Mandela Bay administration is committed to rebuilding our metro and the local economy, together with all our residents. Key to this is our commitment to ensure that we have an efficient and effective government.
“I am, therefore, personally committed to ensuring that all municipal rates and tariffs are kept as affordable as possible,” he said.
