It would seem from the countless complaints that whoever did the new evaluations knows nothing about property evaluations and that the amounts that they dreamt up are so far out that one has to wonder if they where even sober when they did this?
Properties with no pool, no high walls, 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom being valued higher than a 4 bed, two baths, walled in with swimming pool. Industrial properties with buildings on valued at less than open stands that have no services at all.
Is there no end to the ineptitude that we have to deal with? Will there be a point when the powers that be sit up and take responsibility or just plan properly. We have so many estate agents that would be willing to give their time and expertise to the council to give effective, market related valuations instead of the ‘la la’ land version we are served at the moment.
I mean simple things like the ward number that property is in is wrong; I had a company from Alrode in ward 94 who phoned me to ask when did it become ward 57, which is in Thokoza?
But as usual it will be the ratepayers who will bear the brunt of the world-class city we live in – don’t know, don’t care attitude, as it is their rates that have skyrocketed.
As for the council, well their take on it is simple: pay now and we will sort it out later because the average household has soooo much disposable income as to absorb a 130 per cent increase in rates without a blink of the eye. All I can say is that change is coming and it can’t happen soon enough.
