Question NW4059 to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
07 December 2023 - NW4059
Spies, Ms ERJ to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
(1)Whether she and/or her department guides the processes of Valuation Appeal Boards; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, how many members does the Ekhurhuleni Valuation Appeal Board (a) comprise of and (b) are needed to constitute a quorum; (2) with regard to the Board attending to hearings on a one-month-on and-one-month-off basis, how many hearings (a) have been concluded so far and (b) still has to be conducted; (3) how many applications for appeal with regard to valuation rates (V.R.) during 2017/2021, (a) succeeded to have the ratable property values reduced and (b) how many ratable property values increased; (4) in respect of appeal applications for V.R. 2021/2025, (a) have the ratable property values reduced and (b) how many ratable property values were increased?
Reply:
1. The relevant sections of the Municipal Property Rates Act (MPRA) contain sufficient provisions that guides how the MECs responsible for local government establish Valuation Appeal Boards (VABs) and what constitute a quorum for a VAB. In this regard, sections 56 and 58 outline how VABs are established and composed, section 64 provides for appointment of alternate members of a VAB and section 68 outlines what constitute a quorum of the members of a VAB.
a) According to information supplied by the provincial CoGTA and Ekurhuleni municipality, the Ekurhuleni VAB is currently composed of 4 members and 4 alternate members.
b) In terms of section 68 of the MPRA,
“(1)(a) A majority of the members of an appeal board serving at any time constitutes a quorum for a meeting of the board.
(b) In addition to a quorum being present, a meeting may not continue unless the valuer member of the appeal board is present.”
2. According to Ekurhuleni municipality:
(a) 3023 hearings have been concluded; and
(b) 2755 hearings are still to be conducted.
3) According to Ekurhuleni municipality, during the 2017/2021 valuation roll period:
(a) 687 appeals were concluded where the rateable value decreased; and
(b) 117 appeals were concluded where the rateable value increased.
4. According to Ekurhuleni municipality, during the current 2021/2025 valuation roll period and to date:
(a) 2293 appeals have been concluded where the rateable value decreased; and
(b) 462 appeals have been concluded where the rateable value increased.
End.