​Residents of the City of Johannesburg have to play their part by ensuring that they pay for rates so that the municipality can have the financial resources to accelerate service delivery.

Addressing a Rates Policy review meeting on Saturday, 25 January 2020, at Danie van Zyl Recreation Centre in Claremont, Region B, the Speaker of Council, Cllr Nonceba Molwele, said: “I’m here to make sure that the citizens do give input so that we can review this process.”

She said the City needed to do a fine balancing act to ensure that property taxation is equitable and fair. “It’s time for residents to get involved and have their say on municipal property rates,” said Cllr Molwele.

The policy review process, which takes place annually, defines and categorises all properties within the borders of Johannesburg and allows the City to generate rates revenue by assigning a tariff to the property values in the General Valuation Roll. Cllr Molwele said the country’s Constitution empowered councils to impose rates on property.

City of Joburg’s Veli Hlophe said the purpose of the meeting is to do civic education about the services offered by the City. Council must also adopt a rates policy which is consistent with the provision of the Property Rates Act. “We are going to adjust our policy so that it talks to the strategic direction that the new administration is taking.”

He said the City was aware that there are a lot of properties developed and leased for longer periods such as 10 years. A legal notice for proposed tariffs for 2020/2021 will also be advertised requesting stakeholders to submit their input on the proposed increase.

A report will be prepared for the Mayoral Committee and Council requesting final approval of the draft rates policy and tariffs. All inputs and submissions by stakeholders and residents will be summarised and become part of the report.

During a heated question and answer session, one of the residents complained: “The City does not value the property the same even though properties are the same.”
Another asked City officials: “I need to know whether I am billed in the right manner or not.”

In conclusion, Cllr Molwele said: “As City we need to communicate for information to cascade to everybody. No one size fits all. The office of the Speaker of Council met Regional Directors and urged them to update ward profiles. We also need to use all media, not just newspapers and social media to communicate with residents of the City.” 
She said the MMC for Finance, Cllr Jolidee Matongo and the City leadership will look into the issues raised by residents and address the concerns.

This year, the City has extended public meetings to 10 more sites to ensure broader consultation. The first phase of public input into the Draft Rates Policy 2020/2021 started on 21 January and will end on 11 March 2020. The due date for comments is 11 March 2020.

Written comments may be emailed to: RatesComments@joburg.org.za or Pumza@joburg.org.za