The DA in Tshwane has warned that the Metro is poised to increase its income from property rates significantly in the 2025/26 financial year.

The party recently suggested the City’s property valuation roll, which is currently open for review, has caused great unhappiness amongst residents as in many cases property valuations have doubled.

Member of the Mayoral Committee for Finance Eugene Modise said the city has completed the process to re-evaluate properties to levy property rates and the new tariffs will come into effect from July 1, 2025.

He urged residents to carefully review their updated property valuations and, if necessary, submit objections if they believe the new values do not accurately reflect the property's market value as of the valuation date.

“This is meant to ensure that property owners are not price-gouged if there have been changes to the value of their property,” Modise said.

The DA finance spokesperson, Jacqui Uys, revealed on Monday during a media briefing in Pretoria that property owners can expect a substantial surge in income from property rates.

“From the valuation increases that DA councillors have seen, it is clear to us that Tshwane will increase its income from property rates significantly. Under the Municipal Property Rates Act, a municipality must complete a general valuation roll every four years,” she said.

She said the party has proposed a zero percent increase in tariffs for all rateable property categories in the upcoming financial year.

Uys said the party also has proposed a significant increase in the portion of residential property values that are exempt from property rates, jumping from R150 000 to R450 000.

The adjustment, according to the DA, aligns with the standards set by other metros and is expected to bring substantial relief to property owners.

Additionally, the party suggests that the city consider exempting a portion of the value of business and agricultural properties from property rates.

The DA said: “No new taxes to be introduced. Poorer households are already paying 5 to 10% of their monthly income on having bins lifted, it is also these same households that will be hit hardest by the introduction of a new electricity tariff. The focus should rather be on law enforcement on both illegal dumping and theft of electricity as a way to fund the electricity model of the city.”

ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont slammed the DA’s alternative budget solutions for the City of Tshwane, dismissing them as a mere publicity stunt.

He said the proposed interventions were not presented to the coalition government, “which suggests these solutions are orientated more to publicity than communities”.

He, however, said the DA’s inputs will be noted and that the governing multi-party coalition will likely give the proposals due consideration.

“The DA's vocal criticism of the recent review of the property valuation roll in Tshwane stands out as particularly hypocritical,” he said.

Beaumont lashed out at the DA, saying the process to review the roll was made under the DA administration under former Executive Mayor, Cilliers Brink.

At the time Brink said: “The city will update the property valuation roll in 2025. We believe there are many discrepancies on our valuation roll. Anyone who searches online will find large, upmarket properties in Tshwane on which nominal property rates are payable." rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za

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