TASNEEM HASSAN
The City has completed its latest general valuation roll, which determines how much property owners will end up paying in rates, and those wanting to object have until the end of April to do so.
At the Sub-council 3 meeting in Goodwood on Thursday February 18, chairman Taki Amira said this was the first year the total valuation of all rateable properties had passed the trillion rand mark.
The roll was based on the market value of properties on August 1 2015.
“The City valuer makes use of a computer modelling programme which uses sales data, aerial imagery and other property information (for example, the property’s location, size, number of rooms, outbuildings, general quality and view) to determine the market value of a property,” said Mr Amira.
The 2015 valuations, officially published on Friday February 19, show the total value of Cape Town property has increased from R911 billion in 2012, to R1.1 trillion.
The new valuations are available on the city council’s website at www.capetown.gov.za/propertyvaluations as well as at venues across the City, including the conference room at the Bellville municipal building and the minor hall at the Parow civic centre.
The venues are open from 8.15am to 3.45pm, Mondays to Fridays.
If you disagree with the valuation, you can submit an objection no later than Friday April 29. You can pick up objection forms at the same venues where the roll is available.
Property rates based on the new valuation roll will be billed from Friday July 1.
* Mr Amira also told the sub-council meeting there would be five new wards in the City following the completion of an Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) ward demarcation process.
In Sub-council 3, Ward 1 will now include Burgundy Estate, Baronetcy Estate and Richwood. Tygerdal and N1 City south of the N1 will no longer be part of Ward 1.
Mr Amira said the first voter-registration weekend was planned for March 5 and 6, and residents from Burgundy Estate and Richwood would need to re-register as their voting district was now part of Ward 1.
“It is important to register although I believe that the IEC will automatically make the necessary changes,” he said.
* Mr Amira warned that the invasive “tree of heaven” was plaguing the suburbs of Cape Town, causing extensive ecological and infrastructural damage.
He urged residents to report all invasive tree species.
“It might look exotic and pretty, but the tree of heaven is an extremely harmful invasive species. To date, the City has almost 200 records of the tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) in Cape Town,” he said. “Capable of growing through cracks in sidewalks, gutters and walls, and penetrating underground pipelines, this plant can cause significant damage to infrastructure.
For more information, visit www.capetowninvasives.org.za, and report sightings of this plant to the City’s Green Jobs Unit at invasive.species@capetown.gov.za
Liewe Heksie flies into the Baxter