DA Rejects Tshwane Budget, Rates Policy and IDP

During the Special Council Meeting held on Thursday 29 May 2008, the Democratic Alliance Pretoria-Tshwane Caucus voted against the proposed budget.

According to the DA the budget priorities were left a lot to be desired and was not geared towards economic growth for teh city. The budget seems to become more of a social welfare budget in stead of one that provides opportunities and a hand up for communities living in our city.

The Tshwane Council cannot afford to become a welfare city and needs to put as much budget towards creating economic opportunities for communities as it does in providing grants in aid. If this is not done the city will never be able to develop its people to become more economically active and therefore less dependent on handouts.

The DA also rejectd the Property Rates Policy suggested by the Council. Although the DA is of the view that the policy is by and large fair, it is upset that the policy does not make provision for larger rebates for pensioners, invalids, the infirm and independent schools.

Taking into consideration by how much the budget will grow due to the new property rates levels, there was more than enough room to allow for these concessions which were including in the draft policy. Why the ANC changed the policy is beyond comprehension.

Lastly, the DA was also very dissatisfied with the IDP and the lack of proper community consultation that took place when compiling the integrated development plan. The residents and communities within the city are being marginalised increasingly and their voice silenced. Their needs seem to be secondary to those who are influential in stead of counting the same weight.

The administrative bungling that goes hand in hand with so called public participation in the city excludes too mane residents from having their voices heard.

The DA is also concerned that the IDP has no real influence and plays no real role in addressing the needs of the community. The IDP has become a wish list which is generally ignored by the Council when they have to make decisions about planning and development.

How Do I Calculate My New Property Rate Tax?

There is quite a lot of anxiety about the new property rates taxes that will come into effect on 1 July 2008. However, before you panic we provide you with the formula that the Tshwane Council will use to determine your new monthly property rate tax. Here is what you should do to calculate your property tax.

First, go to http://www.tshwane.gov.za/ to see what your new property valuation is.
Secondly, apply the following formula to calculate your new tax rate.

Your property value - R50 000 X 0,9% - 35% ÷ 12 months = monthly rate

Example for a property valued at R 1 million

(1000 000 - 50 000) X 0,9% - 35% ÷ 12 = R463,13 per month

We hope that you find this information useful and that it provides certainty about your new property tax rate.

Tshwane Beeld Artikel oor Eiendomsbelasting - Regstelling

Persverklaring: Raadslid Natasha Michael, Hoofsweep DA Tshwane Koukus. 2 April 2008

Die Demokratiese Alliansie (DA) in die Tshwane Metro Raad het met teleurstelling gereageer op die artikel wat in die Tshwane Beeld van 2 April 2008 verskyn het.
Rdl Natasha Michael, hoofsweep in die raad het gesê dat die artikel nie die bedoeling van die beleid aandui nie. Ook is die standpunte van die DA in hierdie verband nie korrek aangedui nie. Michael het verwys na die stelling wat gemaak word dat ‘n interne omsendskrywe deur die koukus leier, Fred Nel, uitgestuur is waarin aangedui word dat tariewe in sekere gevalle met 600% kan styg.
“ Rdl Nel het ‘n interne memo uitgestuur waarin hy bloot verskeie scenarios uitwys wat deur ons as raadslede ondersoek moes word. Hierdie scenario’s is ondersoek om te verseker dat ons te alle tye in die beste belang van ons kiesers optree. Uiteindelik, toe ons ‘n finale kopie van die beleid ontvang het, was ons aangenaam verras om te sien dat nie een van die moontlike slegte scenario’s gerealiseer het nie, en dat dit ‘n regverdige en aanvaarbare beleid was.” het Michael gesê.
“Die Vryheids Front + (VF+) is weereens besig om die publiek te mislei deur op onnodige en onprofessionele wyse te probeer om kiesers bang te maak deur halwe waarhede aan hulle te bied. Interessant is om kennis te neem dat die VF+ slegs een setel het op die Finansies portefeulje komitee. Dit is ook interessant dat die VF+ lid, dit is Rdl Cornelius Janse Van Rensburg, van die laaste sewe vergaderings slegs drie vergaderings bygewoon het. Hy was nie by die vergaderings van 11 Maart 2008, 6 Maart 2008, 11 Januarie 2008 of die vergadering van 25 Oktober 2007 nie. Eerlikwaar, hoe kan mens verwag dat hy sal weet wat aangaan rakende die beleid as hy vergaderings wat die beleid bespreek, misloop!
Ons het ons eie bekommernisse gehad oor die beleid, maar na deeglike berekening en oorweging was ons tevrede dat die beleid regverdig was.
Wat verstaan moet word is dat in gevalle waar waardasies aansienlik onder markwaarde was, sulke tariewe natuurlik sal verhoog. Hierdie toedrag van sake is net logies, maar selfs in sulke gevalle is dit nie naastenby so drasties as wat die VF+ voorgee nie.
Sovêr dit die DA betref is die beleid regverdig en ons is gelukkig daarmee. Ons leef in ‘n mark gedrewe ekonomie, en dit is daarom verstaanbaar dat tariewe in die meer eksklusiewe woonbuurte hoër sal wees as tariewe in minder eksklusiewe woonbuurte want die erwe is meer werd.
Hierdie is nie net ‘n Suid-Afrikaanse verskynsel nie, dit gebeur regoor die wêreld.” het Michael verduidelik.


Raadslid Natasha Michael
Hoofsweep DA Tshwane Koukus
083 282 0668

Property Rates - Check the Value of Your Property!

The Tshwane Municipality has published its estimated property values for all properties in the municipality for inspection.
The new property rates system levies your monthly property rates on the market value of your full property (i.e. stand and improvements).
Make sure the valuation of your property is accurate by inspecting the draft valuation roll to make sure you don’t pay too much property tax from 1 July 2008.

If you want to lodge an objection to your property valuation please remember:
- No objection will be considered unless it is lodged on the prescribed form and submitted on/ before 30 April 2008.
- Only original forms will be considered.
- Lodging an objection will not defer liability for the payment of your rates.

Also note that all properties are valued on market value and if your valuation is correct or less than market value it would serve no purpose to lodge an objection to the value of your property.

Click on the brochure posted here for more information on how and where you can check your property's municipal valuation.